《Superhumans of the Dome City》 Chapter 1 - 1 Prologue Dream of the Past ?1: Prologue: Dream of the Past 1: Prologue: Dream of the Past The old tree¡¯s withered branches split the view like lightning, dividing the night sky into irregular grids. A crimson full moon hung high, casting a blood-red light on the ruins. Within the endless gray mist, an ancient bell tower stood stubbornly, like an aging knight proceeding to his death, its damaged clock face resembling its faded medal of honor. Gongsun Ce collapsed weakly into the gray mist, staring at the top of the distant bell tower, fixating on another living creature amidst the mist. ¡°Cuckoo~¡± A cuckoo bird flitted back and forth above the broken clock face, repeating its tedious call again and again. ¡°Cuckoo~¡± The cuckoo bird was crudely made, lacking refinement, much like a rushed project completed by students just before their deadline. It had a glass eye, yet only one had been made, turning it into a one-eyed time-telling bird¡ªfar from charming, it was downright unpleasant. This cuckoo bird had become the last survivor of Supibia. This place was once a resplendent city, Morton Island¡¯s capital of which they were proud. Knights patrolled the bright streets, nobles chatted and laughed in their platinum-colored buildings, and the bustling outer city teemed with the clamor of ordinary people¡ªa noisy yet peaceful scene. Now, everything was utterly gone. The royal city had turned into a gray, foreign realm; palaces had reduced to ruins; regardless of nobles, knights, or commoners, all life had melted into the cold mist. Only a wooden bird kept calling monotonously, as though mourning the past, and simultaneously mocking the present. ¡°Cuckoo~¡± They had made so many preparations; they fought with their lives, never wishing to give up even at the last moment¡­ yet now the city was destroyed, with no survivors left. The white mist began to erode Gongsun Ce¡¯s body, and soon he too would dissolve alive into the mist. He felt no pain, only a sense of being entranced in his sadness. So this was the Dragon Disaster, a force beyond the Mortal World, a calamity that destroyed everything¡ªhow insignificant humanity seemed before such natural disasters. But the calamity had arrived, so where was the giant dragon? ¡°¡ªClang!¡± A deafening bell rang out, intermixed with the low laughter of a malevolent being. The vibrations of the bell broke the cuckoo bird¡¯s perch. Unable to flutter its unfinished wooden wings, the bird fell stiffly like a person. It was supposed to fall into the grayness, to be swallowed by the mist. However, the scene that unfolded before the young man was drastically different: the hazy gray momentarily dispersed, leaving only a few remnants, nest-like, supporting it. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, the city-wide mist spiraled, forming a cyclone with the wooden bird as its eye. The gray mist wrapped layer by layer around the wooden sculpture, outlining fine scales, a thick tail, slender limbs, skeletal wings, a barrel-like swollen body, and a tiny head with just one eye¡ªthe new body, the true body. The petite statue was no more, replaced by a massive and terrifying twisted beast! It violently spread its fleshless wings, its dry wings slashing through the night like lightning, nearly obscuring the entire sky. The mist surged and spun with its movements, as if countless souls were cheering the king¡¯s arrival! It spread its fleshless wings, flapped its dry wings, passed beyond the top of the bell tower, continuing upward, upward, flying towards the sky¡­ Proclaiming the arrival of the giant dragon. ¡¤ ¡°!¡± Then, Gongsun Ce awoke from his nightmare. Memories he wished to forget flooded into his mind like a tide, fear and sadness abruptly seizing his heart. Supporting his forehead with one hand, he gasped for air, struggling to calm his emotions, yet finding it difficult to immediately dispel the lingering nightmares of the past. The sob-like dragon¡¯s roar still echoed in his mind, the residual sound of the dream that had not yet departed. Because he had removed his glasses before sleeping, the scene before him was blurry, as if enveloped in mist¡­ Just like the gloom from three years ago, which lingered still. Chapter 2 - 2 1 The Lying Superpower User ?2: Chapter 1 The Lying Superpower User 2: Chapter 1 The Lying Superpower User ¡°Huff¡­ ah¡­¡± Another nightmare gave Gongsun Ce a severe headache; the gray-white mist still seemed to linger in his vision, causing the young man to feel a chill deep in his bones. Clutching his forehead, he took a few breaths, adjusting his state amid the panting. Supibia, the Disaster from the Underworld¡­ the contents of the dream hadn¡¯t changed, still the events from three years ago¡­ Where had he fallen asleep again? The surroundings were noisy¡­ Wooden tables for four, plastic chairs, students conversing in different languages, superpower users at the next table creating ice cubes and lightning, frolicking around¡­ That¡¯s right, he must still be in the Sky City, at the fast food restaurant near the university¡­ ¡°Are you okay, Ah Ce?¡± A familiar female voice reached his ears, bringing Gongsun Ce¡¯s chaotic thoughts back to calmness. He lifted an arm weakly, ¡°Got a mirror, please?¡± ¡°Here.¡± A hard object was thrust into his hand, and Gongsun Ce put on his glasses and looked at his just-awoken reflection. His gray hair, from dozing face down on the table, was flattened in one area; below his rectangular glasses, his golden pupils were full of weariness and confusion. Paired with his blue shirt and gray jeans, he looked like a college student whose spirit wandered elsewhere during an early 8 AM class. Everything seemed normal, except for the ¡°mirror¡± itself¡­ ¡°I say, Miss, I asked for a mirror, didn¡¯t I?¡± Gongsun Ce gazed dully at the girl across the table, ¡°But this thing, from any angle, it¡¯s just an used napkin, right?¡± As Gongsun Ce had said, the reflective object he used had a crumpled square appearance, with suspicious oil stains in the corners. Rather than calling it a mirror, it was more like a napkin turned into a mirror. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a mirror on hand, so I used my power to change the reflectivity of the napkin,¡± said the Miss, ¡°It¡¯s really a stroke of genius. I am amazed by my own wit.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk about everyday tricks as if they¡¯re superpower entrepreneurial ideas.¡± Those participating in this ridiculous conversation were bound to be seen as quite odd by others. Fortunately, in this city, strange individuals were not at all scarce, and the Miss herself was more unusual than the conversation. The full name of the Miss was Qin Qianbai, phrased by Gongsun Ce due to her origin from an Empire¡¯s great clan. She donned what was known as an ¡°ancient princess style¡± hairstyle, her sleek black hair long at the back, and wore a white hairband above her overhead fringe. However, the princess-haired Qin Qianbai was not demure and moving as a princess should be; instead, she was filled with a doll-like coldness. The reason was simple; on the beautiful face of this girl, there was never a trace of expression. If it weren¡¯t for the fluctuations in her voice when she spoke, Gongsun Ce would almost believe he was conversing with a living doll. Just like now, the Miss clasped her hands with excitement, yet no excited expression could be seen, ¡°Napkin makeup mirrors are definitely going to be popular.¡± ¡°They most certainly will not.¡± Gongsun Ce replied listlessly. Qin Qianbai¡¯s power was to change the ¡°properties¡± of objects. Hardness, toughness, strength, rigidity¡­ any parameter that decided an object¡¯s properties could be altered through her power. This bizarre ¡°mirror¡± was naturally a product of her power, but it was a pity; the city was filled with superpower entrepreneurs, and a mere Paper Mirror was unlikely to earn more than pocket change. The Miss tilted her head, making a query with her unique tone. ¡°Look at you, look at you, that¡¯s a worried expression. Ah Ce, you¡¯re speaking with very little energy, aren¡¯t you not feeling well?¡± ¡°How could that be? Mr. Gongsun is in excellent shape, at peak condition at all times.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having lied in response to his friend¡¯s concern, Gongsun Ce habitually surveyed the surrounding environment. It was half-past four in the afternoon; the lunchtime peak was long gone, yet the fast-food restaurant was still bustling. The aroma of fried food mixed with the scent of milkshakes and ice cream as energetic young men and women nibbled on high-calorie foods they needed most, while laughing and chatting loudly. The news program in the screen wall barely broke through the noisy chatter, bringing snippets of international news to Gongsun Ce¡¯s ears, ¡°¡­ the true perpetrator of last year¡¯s end-of-year bloodshed in the eastern part of Zero Island remains at large, Zero Island police raised the reward to three million today to capture the criminal suspect¡­¡± Gongsun Ce pricked up his ears, wanting to listen more closely, but the presenter had already finished the news flash and started to promote the new album of a popular idol. Gongsun Ce reluctantly gave up on the idea, asking, ¡°Where did Mr. Shiyu and Kardesia go?¡± ¡°Kardesia wanted to go see Biochemical Seal, so she unilaterally dragged Mr. Shiyu away.¡± Those two were the same as always. ¡°Poor Mr. Shiyu, once again toyed with in the palm of the top hat lady,¡± Gongsun Ce said insincerely, expressing his sympathy, ¡°Well, Mr. Gongsun will go buy some afternoon tea and be off¡ª¡± Gongsun Ce didn¡¯t get up from his seat smoothly, as Qin Qianbai across the table grabbed his sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t try to bluff your way through, Ah Ce.¡± Qin Qianbai said, ¡°You¡¯re encountering a problem.¡± Gongsun Ce stretched, replying in a relaxed voice, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it! Mr. Gongsun simply stayed up too late playing games last night, that¡¯s why he accidentally fell asleep just now.¡± ¡°Lies. The always careful and prudent Ah Ce would never fall asleep in public.¡± Qin Qianbai¡¯s gaze, as if peering into his soul, made the young man want to duck his head. Chapter 3 - 3 1 The Lying Superpower User_2 ?3: Chapter 1 The Lying Superpower User_2 3: Chapter 1 The Lying Superpower User_2 ¡°You overestimate me. Rather than being careful and cautious, it¡¯s more like I¡¯ve always been someone who acts recklessly, is driven by emotions, and tends to be careless,¡± Ah Ce said. ¡°Excessive modesty is a form of arrogance.¡± ¡°And a mere statement of the situation can hardly be considered modesty. Do you want an ice cream cone?¡± ¡°You¡¯re terribly mistaken if you think you can buy me off with desserts.¡± Qin Qianbai withdrew her hand, sat down in her seat, ¡°I¡¯ll have chocolate flavor.¡± Bribery successful. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll get it to go.¡± Gongsun Ce spent five minutes buying the young lady¡¯s ice cream cone and his Set A (which included an explosive beef burger, golden chicken wings, and Bio¡¤Mashed Potatoes). To him, freshly awakened from a nightmare, the fast-food restaurant¡¯s noisy environment was too much; Gongsun Ce stood up with the takeout bag, prepared to fill his stomach on the way home. ¡¤ Ten minutes later, they arrived at the crossroads where they were to part; the pedestrian signal turned from green to red, and the two preparing to cross slowed down. A screeching sound, loud as a sports car engine, came from the left side of the road; four tall horses pulling an antique carriage rushed past on the motorway, stirring up a wind tainted with a strange odor. The horses¡¯ eyes were bloodshot, and they were marked with bizarre, circuit-like green patterns¡ªone glance was enough to confirm that these were bioengineered creatures unique to this city. ¡°Ah Ce, are bioengineered carriages really eco-friendly?¡± Qin Qianbai asked while eating her ice cream. Gongsun Ce disdainfully fanned away the air, trying to dispel the horse sweat odor: ¡°I think something that stinks this bad doesn¡¯t deserve to claim it¡¯s ¡®eco-friendly.''¡± A private sports car up ahead seemed to develop a competitive edge against the bioengineered carriage, beginning to speed up in an attempt to overtake it in downtown traffic. Paparazzi with cameras stood on saucer-like personal flyers, following the scene, hoping it might turn into a newsworthy story. Gongsun Ce took a big bite of his hamburger, finding some solace in the spectacle before him. This place was always absurd, but for the residents so accustomed to it, it was just another part of their peculiar daily life. The light turned green, Gongsun Ce swallowed the last bite of his burger, and noticed that the girl next to him hadn¡¯t taken a step. ¡°Another dream about that incident three years ago, huh?¡± Qin Qianbai, having finished her ice cream, continued to pursue the matter. It looked like he needed to tell a different kind of lie. ¡°I admit it¡¯s a nightmare about that incident three years ago,¡± Gongsun Ce packed up the food wrappers, ¡°Did I ever tell you about the time when I had just taken a shower, was wrapped in a bath towel writing something, and got caught searching for R-rated images for reference?¡± ¡°A disaster on the level of a car crash at a fire scene,¡± nodded the young lady. ¡°This utterly disastrous scene was etched deep into Mr. Gongsun¡¯s heart, so much so that I still occasionally relive that cruel past in nightmares,¡± Gongsun Ce sighed, ¡°Well, your curiosity should be satisfied now; I¡¯m going to skip class and head home to rest.¡± That was also a lie. It was merely exchanging one fact for another, a lie just as different from answering the question. This kind of lie could express an attitude: I don¡¯t want you to delve any further into this matter, please maintain a proper distance. Three seconds remained on the green light. Gongsun Ce threw the packaging bag into a trash can, waved his hand, and stepped onto the crosswalk. ¡°Ah Ce.¡± The expressionless girl stopped him. ¡°The streets have been unsafe these nights; try not to go out alone.¡± ¡°Advice received, thanks.¡± But even if that unknown criminal is audacious, he wouldn¡¯t have the nerve to attack me. In the final second before the green light ended, Gongsun Ce crossed to the other side of the street alone. As he turned around, he caught a glimpse of a sports car colliding with a carriage, a minor car accident occurring amid the cursing of drivers. This coincided, like a cruel twist of fate, with what his friend had cautioned him of when they had parted ways, which didn¡¯t sit well with Gongsun Ce. The arriving traffic police sounded their sirens, and he dispersed the unexplained restlessness in his heart, walking towards home amidst the piercing noise. Nothing worth mentioning happened during the five-minute walk, and Gongsun Ce smoothly arrived at the entrance of his apartment building. Superpowered brawls rarely happened in safer areas, and one or two car accidents were nothing more than a common street scene in the Thorn District, as placid as its hundreds of unfallen white towers. Apart from a vexing nightmare, today was, from any perspective, an utterly ordinary day in February¡­ ¡°¡ª¡ªAaaahhh!¡± Until a heart-wrenching scream descended from the sky, tearing through the calm of everyday life with its shrill sound. An object, trailing a stench of blood, plummeted from the high skies, its whistling mingled with a madness that would send chills down a common person¡¯s spine. A heavy thud marked the creature¡¯s landing as dust rose at the front door of the apartment building, and a green shadow smashed viciously onto the ground in front of the building, with the force of a meteor strike! ¡°Wow,¡± Gongsun Ce said. This humanoid creature sported a head crowned with a rooster¡¯s comb, dripping green blood, endlessly hissing like a venomous snake. It had three-fingered hands with talon-like nails, and its mouth bristled with sharp teeth, terrifying as those of a giant insect. Raising its head, it gazed at Gongsun Ce, the small eyes revealing a beast-like cruelty and slyness. Gongsun Ce noticed black arrows embedded in each of the creature¡¯s ankles, which were likely the cause of its grave injuries. These days, no one used cold weapons anymore, but it wasn¡¯t that unusual in this city. ¡°Hiss¡­ Hiss¡­¡± The green, comb-crowned head flicked its tongue in and out as if sensing prey, eager to strike. Gongsun Ce shrugged his shoulders, deciding to greet it amicably: ¡°Hello? Domo? Do you need help?¡± ¡°¡ª¡ª!¡± The comb-crowned creature howled, opting for action over words: it leaped up from the ground, its claws retracting sharply, and its pointed tips lunged for Gongsun Ce¡¯s chest like spears! Gongsun Ce watched the frenzied assailant with calm eyes. Even as the sharp claws nearly grazed his clothing, he showed no sign of panic. ¡°It seems you don¡¯t need any.¡± A moment later, the brutal predator was hurled into the air. There was no third party intruding on the battleground, and Gongsun Ce was no master of martial arts with lightning-fast punches. He simply made a very simple motion, clenching his right fist, imagining the strike in his mind¡­ His thought, in the world of reality, transformed into a genuine, tangible ¡°force.¡± A violent gust surged, the heavy punch was thrown, and an invisible colossal fist materialized out of thin air, smashing upward into the comb-crowned creature¡¯s jaw! Its head jerked upwards grotesquely, its sharp teeth spraying out with blood from its mouth. In a mere breath¡¯s time, the comb-crowned creature was utterly overpowered by a force far more savage than itself, the strength of the punch tearing away the arrows from its ankles and sending it flying five meters into the air! Gongsun Ce unclenched his fist, pressing his palm downwards. The overwhelming power formed a wall, smashing the airborne comb-crowned creature back to the ground. The predator looked up bewilderedly at him, its eyes shifting from greed to terror. ¡°¡­You?!¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t be so surprised, Mr. Nameless,¡± Gongsun Ce adjusted his glasses, ¡°since you find yourself in the City of the Heavens¡­¡± ¡°In this city, home to 5.7 million superpower users, it¡¯s not all that unusual for a college student you randomly meet on the street to have telekinesis, is it?¡± Just as he said, like most students in this city, the 19-year-old Gongsun Ce¡ª was quite a formidable superpower user. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 4 - 4 2 3-Minute Duel ?4: Chapter 2: 3-Minute Duel 4: Chapter 2: 3-Minute Duel In the spring of the year 2000 of the Yong Guang Calendar, shortly after the disaster known as the Calamity of the Firmament, some teenagers discovered they possessed special powers that could spontaneously cause supernatural phenomena. From bending spoons and creating small orbs, to unleashing lightning and morphing into beastly creatures with blue faces and sharp teeth, the powers that these children possessed varied greatly. Among them, individuals with destructive capabilities were not uncommon, and a very few could even destroy a city on their own. The children received superpowers but often lacked the sound mind needed to control these powers, hence the first half of this century was truly a disaster. Superpowers went awry worldwide, causing immense loss of life and wealth. After the emergence of the Superpower Users, the governments of various countries quickly completed negotiations and announced the results globally: for the safety of the majority of the population, all Superpower Users needed to be forcibly sent to a city jointly managed by the countries of the world for containment. This city was built upon the remains of a giant dragon, floating more than 20 kilometers in the sky. This was the globally famous Superpower Users containment facility, the prison city denounced as ¡°inhumane atrocity¡± by mainstream media, Sky Firmament City. And these teenagers with supernatural powers were publicly called¡­ Superpower Users. Now, in the spring of the year 2010 of the Yong Guang Calendar, as of this January, the number of Superpower Users in Sky Firmament City had surpassed 5.7 million. This is also the ninth consecutive year the city has been named the ¡°worst city globally.¡± Fights among Superpower Users occur frequently, and organizational confrontations are found everywhere; researchers in the university, dressed in lab coats, are busy year after year studying the Superpower Users¡¯ powers and making them practical, thus creating numerous bizarre bio-experiment subjects that break containment and run wild every few days. Compared to those bio-monsters that could easily smash buildings, the freshly surfaced Mr. Rooster Head didn¡¯t seem all that dangerous. Gongsun Ce had been in Sky Firmament City for a long time, so he was very calm and composed: It¡¯s just a frenzied bio-experiment, not a big deal. He took out his phone, ready to report it like any old resident and then run away¡­ ¡°¡­your situation seems quite peculiar.¡± However, Gongsun Ce put his phone back in his pocket. Gongsun Ce hadn¡¯t used his full strength just now but had hit with considerable telekinetic force. His experience told him that those hits were enough to knock a Bio-bull unconscious, yet Mr. Green Rooster Head proved his physique was a bit better than that of the bull. He clumsily climbed up, unable to stop vomiting blood, but his eyes were much clearer than before. Mr. Green Rooster Head kicked away the black arrow that had pierced his ankle and gave Gongsun Ce an ugly smile. ¡°Thank you¡­ kid,¡± Mr. Green Rooster Head said unclearly, ¡°That damned Hunter, she really screwed me over¡­ sorry, sorry, I couldn¡¯t speak just now, couldn¡¯t introduce myself¡­ I am Capro, Capro Boli. Thanks again.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, I am Gongsun Ce.¡± Gongsun Ce carefully examined this stranger whose demeanor had changed greatly, ¡°Forgive my bluntness, I did not expect you to be so polite.¡± ¡°Even if one cannot be a gentleman, a man of the Country cannot forget his manners,¡± Capro wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, ¡°Now¡­ Mr. Gongsun, as you can see, I am a loser.¡± I can see that you¡¯ve lost a fight before meeting me, but I don¡¯t quite understand why you were fighting. ¡°I am on an adventure¡­ adventuring to summon the omnipotent God!¡± Capro¡¯s eyes gleamed with a zealot¡¯s fervor, ¡°But mere mortals can¡¯t comprehend my actions¡­ they call me a madman, they will arrest me, they will sentence me to death. I¡¯ve failed, fortuitous Superpower User, would you hear my final request?¡± Gongsun Ce pushed his glasses up: ¡°Please, speak.¡± This behavior might seem insane to most people. Not only was he engaging with a monster who had just attacked him, but he was also considering listening to some ¡°request.¡± However, Gongsun Ce was an outlier. More than positions or personal safety, this Superpower User cared about others¡¯ ¡°attitudes.¡± In most cases, Gongsun Ce was willing to comply with requests from those who demonstrated proper manners, even if the speaker was seen as a villain by most. But if someone¡¯s attitude was rude or their actions reckless, even if they were a specialist on the side of justice, Gongsun Ce wouldn¡¯t show them any favor. From this perspective, Gongsun Ce could be said to be an utter individualist. ¡°You are very powerful; I plead you not to leave,¡± Capro¡¯s words were quite unexpected, ¡°This might be the last battle of my life. Being caught by the Hunter afterward if I win, or being killed by you if I lose, it¡¯s all fine¡­ it will allow me to die like a warrior¡­ S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. but I don¡¯t want to die obliviously like a beast. Please, sir, grant me one fight.¡± Capro seemed schizophrenic, having behaved like a beast just moments before, now he appeared as if a knight from a 21st-century novel had infected his brain with madness. But Gongsun Ce felt no repulsion, rather he admired this demeanor, for he had been to King Morton, and he had seen true Knights. ¡°Admirable spirit,¡± Gongsun Ce gestured, ¡°After you.¡± Capro gave him a grateful look, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He murmured a short phrase softly, as if declaring it before some ritual: ¡°Crossing all barriers, devouring the blood most divine¡­¡± Chapter 5 - 5 2 3-Minute Duel_2 ?5: Chapter 2: 3-Minute Duel_2 5: Chapter 2: 3-Minute Duel_2 Capro¡¯s facial muscles eerily writhed as the moving bones emitted a grating sound. He suddenly opened his eyes, his mouth full of sharp teeth expanding snake-like to a terrifying size, and from the depths of that horrifying cavity, a lethal red light shot forth! ¡°Desolate Form¡ªDivine Communication, Sky-piercing Snake!¡± Gongsun Ce sharply captured the true nature of that red light. What shot out rapidly from Capro¡¯s mouth was an entirely red, living snake! The snake, appearing as if it had lost its skin, glimmered bloodily as its speed created afterimages in the air, shooting forward like an arrow, aimed directly for Gongsun Ce¡¯s head! However, the Sky-piercing Snake missed its mark, finding nothing where its target had once been. Capro¡¯s gaze shifted and he instantly noticed something amiss¡ªGongsun Ce, supported on just one foot, had tilted his entire body 60 degrees to the right. He hovered in mid-air in a pose common folks couldn¡¯t possibly achieve, as if frozen mid-fall! ¡°Telekinesis¡­?¡± ¡°Of course, telekinesis,¡± replied Gongsun Ce, maintaining his pose. ¡°It can attack others as well as aid oneself, isn¡¯t that easy to imagine?¡± Capro retracted the Sky-piercing Snake, speaking strangely, ¡°You don¡¯t seem too surprised?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen experts skilled in this ¡®technology¡¯ before¡­¡± Gongsun Ce stressed the word , ¡°technology,¡± ¡°But your appearance is indeed quite rare! How exactly did you train yourself to this state?¡± Capro, now on all fours, pounced like an animal. This severely wounded foreigner seemed to disregard his injuries entirely, focused solely on killing his opponent with all his might. The Sky-piercing Snake shot out from his mouth once more, this time Capro aimed for Gongsun Ce¡¯s chest. Gongsun Ce immediately straightened his body and created three telekinetic walls in the air to block the attack. Squinting, he sensed something was off: the red snake passed directly through the barriers, with the feedback from his telekinesis feeling like air! Gongsun Ce quickly changed tactics, retreating while using telekinesis to hurl the broken stones from the ground. But again, the strange phenomenon occurred, with the red snake¡¯s forward momentum unbroken, and the stones passing through its body without causing any harm. ¡°My Sky-piercing Snake won¡¯t be stopped by these little tricks!¡± Capro roared as he lunged forward, and Gongsun Ce tried several more times, throwing mud and leaves from a nearby flowerbed to block the snake. He realized this snake truly possessed bizarre properties, unaffected by either physical or telekinetic attacks, as though he were fighting a hallucination only he could see. Gongsun Ce made a decision, he lifted his fist and struck directly at the enemy¡¯s real body with his telekinesis. Capro deftly changed positions, moving in a zigzag pattern between the brick road and the flowerbed, yet was still hit by the unseen heavy fist. Flung into the air, Capro smirked triumphantly¡ªthe Sky-piercing Snake burst forth again from Capro¡¯s gaping maw, now at double the speed, flying towards Gongsun Ce! He was hiding his skills. After the first exchange, Capro had realized how formidable this Superpower User was. He deliberately slowed his attack speed, willing to take another hit, just to make Gongsun Ce lower his guard so he could strike with full force, aiming for a lethal blow. At this moment, Gongsun Ce hadn¡¯t changed his position; confident now, Capro had fully grasped the Superpower User¡¯s movement speed, convinced that this move would bring his enemy down! But Gongsun Ce also had not moved. He focused intently on the snake charging straight at him, predicting its trajectory. 1 meter¡­ 0.7 meters¡­ 0.4 meters¡­ In less than two seconds, the Sky-piercing Snake was about to touch his nose, and that¡¯s when Gongsun Ce swung his fist, striking the untouchable snake with his flesh! Just by the way Gongsun Ce clenched his fist, one could tell he wasn¡¯t an expert in combat arts. But Gongsun Ce never needed martial techniques¡ªhis superpower allowed his punch speed to surpass that of an ordinary bullet¡­ fast enough to outpace the full-force Sky-piercing Snake! Thud! Gongsun Ce¡¯s right fist struck heavily into the Sky-piercing Snake¡¯s critical spot. The Superpower User didn¡¯t hesitate to follow through, twisting his fist to smash the crimson snake to the ground, creating a deep crater in the paving stones. The crimson snake twitched on the ground for a moment, then vanished. From afar came a pained howl, and almost simultaneously Capro collapsed, convulsing as if struck in a vital spot himself. ¡°How¡­¡± Capro looked at him in shock, ¡°Why¡­?!¡± Gongsun Ce shook his arm, speaking calmly, ¡°A snake that can¡¯t be touched by matter or energy is indeed a tough foe to defend against¡­ But this also means you can¡¯t use it to attack stones or leaves because the Sky-piercing Snake will simply ¡®pass through¡¯ the targets. This presents an interesting problem, how exactly are you supposed to attack me with a snake that neither interferes nor can be interfered with?¡± ¡°This thing doesn¡¯t seem like an ability from the Illusion System; clearly, it must at least touch me to launch an attack. So, the solution is obvious: I just have to attack using a body it can touch.¡± The necessary explanation ended. There was no third listener on the scene, and Gongsun Ce said this out of respect for an opponent. ¡°A fair ability where we can only touch each other, huh. Any more questions, Capro Boli?¡± Capro¡¯s expression was complex, mixed with frustration, loss, and satisfaction. ¡°No more, a fair duel¡­ you are really strong¡­¡± Capro closed his eyes and completely collapsed on the ground. Gongsun Ce took out a silver pocket watch from his pocket, opened it, and saw it was four forty. Only three minutes had passed since he encountered Capro. ¡°Skipping class for a three-minute superpower duel¡­ sounds like the title of a recent light novel. Mr. Capro is a madman, but surprisingly polite.¡± Gongsun Ce put away the pocket watch and began to think. In the cosmopolitan Capital of the Skies, ruled jointly by various countries with undercurrents flowing, encountering one or two ¡°experts¡± was not unusual. However, Capro¡¯s appearance and mental state were too suspicious; this was not a normal situation. Capro was a citizen of the Country¡­ he was being hunted by many, he wanted to ¡°summon the almighty God¡±¡­ Bits and pieces in Gongsun Ce¡¯s mind came together, creating a ridiculous yet unsettling imagination. Could it be a giant dragon? Gongsun Ce asked himself, could it be a Dragon Disaster? This association was extremely absurd, and without evidence, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t consider this direction. But Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t control his thoughts; he had just woken up from a nightmare, his memories lingering¡­ if it was really a dragon¡­ if the speculation became reality¡­ Scenes flashed through Gongsun Ce¡¯s mind¡ªfog, ruins, a blood moon, a cuckoo. The images finally froze on the last scene of the nightmare, the Netherworld Dragon spreading its wings on top of the bell tower. Fear exploded in his chest; panic and disgust made the superpower user extremely anxious, almost wanting to scream. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gongsun Ce clutched his chest, only feeling a foggy whiteness around him, unable to see clearly. The fog from the dream appeared again¡­ The fog had never really left. ¡°¡­!¡± Gongsun Ce gasped sharply, trying to dispel the imagined fog. Behind the gradually fading gray-white haze, a small bud emerged. Not a phantom born from the past, but a real entity. The sun cast a shadow behind Capro, and that bud grew within the shadow. Gongsun Ce remembered clearly that there had been nothing related to flowers there before. Then, another bizarre event occurred before his eyes. The bud bloomed in the shadow, blossoming into a small blue orchid, and a tall woman with blue hair emerged from the flower and smiled at Gongsun Ce. ¡°Well done, lad, extend your hand.¡± Gongsun Ce instinctively did as told. The next second, a pair of bright handcuffs were clasped around the young man¡¯s wrists. ¡°Given that you engaged in close combat and contact with a giant dragon worshipper¡­¡± the blue-haired woman said regretfully, ¡°I am sorry, but you need to be temporarily detained.¡± Chapter 6 - 6 3 Hunter Alice ?6: Chapter 3 Hunter Alice 6: Chapter 3 Hunter Alice Giant dragons. This term did not refer to the fictitious creatures of fantasy tales, but to real behemoths of disaster. They were officially named the ¡°Giant Dragon Phenomenon.¡± The people of the Kingdom and the United States called them Evil Dragons, while those from Zero Island were accustomed to calling them the Calamity God. In the Yong Guang Empire, the dragons had an ancient and fitting moniker¡ªDragon Disaster. Giant dragons were exceptionally powerful, impervious to common weapons. They always appeared without warning, wreaking havoc in the human world in an unpredictable manner, and after obliterating everything, they vanished just as suddenly as they had come. The appearance and power of these creatures had almost nothing in common. Some were merely the size of a building, while others were as vast as a mountain range; some resembled long serpents, capable of swallowing clouds and spewing fog, others had wings on their backs, able to summon wind and rain. Wherever the giant dragons went, unimaginable disasters occurred, such as the reversal of gravity, the rise of Fire Wind, the toppling of seas, and even the distortion of space and time. This accompanying phenomenon, together with the dragon itself, constituted what ordinary people referred to as a ¡°Dragon Disaster.¡± Since the establishment of the first human civilization two thousand years ago, the Dragon Disaster had always been humanity¡¯s greatest enemy. In the past ten years, there had been three occurrences of the Dragon Disaster. Ten years ago, the Sky Disaster reduced Ruoshui City in the Yong Guang Empire to ruins¡­ Three years earlier, the Dark Disaster and Colored Glaze Disaster completely destroyed the capital of Supibia in the Morton Kingdom. The recollection of the Dragon Disaster stopped there, and Gongsun Ce¡¯s brain began to work. His wrists were shackled, and the chief perpetrator stood before him. ¡°I nearly broke out in a cold sweat when I saw the scene. Thank goodness there were no accidental casualties. That¡¯s great!¡± The blue-haired woman was cheerfully speaking to him about something, but it was irrelevant. He was certain this woman had previously uttered a term he could not ignore¡­ ¡°Sorry, miss, what did you say?¡± Frowning, Gongsun Ce inquired, ¡°Dragon worshipers? People who worship the Dragon Disaster?¡± The blue-haired woman looked at Gongsun Ce with slight surprise and flicked her handcuffs, ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t expect you to ask about this first.¡± Gongsun Ce shook his head, attempting to return to his usual state as much as possible. But he knew he couldn¡¯t calm down immediately; his mind was anxious due to nightmares and associations, and that restlessness could only be suppressed, not dissipated on the spot. Gongsun Ce sized up the new arrival. By his standards of beauty, there was no doubt that this foreign woman with a sylphlike figure was beautiful. She had brown eyes and long deep blue hair, dressed in black hunting attire, and wore fingerless leather gloves. Her slender fingers twirled a black short arrow, and her appearance was very much like that of a huntress from the forest. ¡°You are right, sorry for that, miss,¡± the superpower user nodded, ¡°I am Gongsun Ce, a superpower user. And you are?¡± The blue-haired woman observed his expression carefully, speaking with undisguised astonishment. ¡°Wow¡­ I originally wanted to compliment your amazing fighting ability, but you¡¯re incredibly composed for a student.¡± The blue-haired woman laughed as she shook her handcuffs, ¡°I am Alice Adar, a member of the Wild Hunt under the Seventh Knight of the Morton Royal Knights, a Mage of the Impermanence Skill hunting dragon worshipers. I know you have many questions, but there¡¯s an emergency right now, could you please cooperate?¡± A subordinate of the Seventh Knight? I hadn¡¯t seen her three years ago¡­ She claims to be a member of the Wild Hunt, likewise an organization I¡¯ve never heard of¡­ Hunters were Impermanence Law Enforcers who operated in the grey areas, and in theory, shouldn¡¯t be associated with the Knight Order¡­ either she¡¯s lying, or the situation of the kingdom had changed significantly in the last three years. Gongsun Ce thought rapidly and spoke with an odd tone, ¡°Miss Alice. Are you sure you¡¯re not deceiving me with a false name?¡± ¡°Ahahaha, who would give their real name to a stranger on a mission?¡± Miss Alice laughed heartily. I quite honestly told you my real name though. During introductions, shouldn¡¯t there at least be basic respect for each other? This unequal exchange vexed Gongsun Ce, but he told himself now was not the time to show temper. Holding back his anger, first to extract information, it was essential to understand the so-called ¡°dragon worshipers¡± before deciding the next course of action. Gongsun Ce continued attempting to negotiate, ¡°Now that we know each other, I hope you can explain the basics to me¡ª¡± A short arrow gently touched Gongsun Ce¡¯s neck, the smile remained on Alice¡¯s face, but her eyes turned icy. ¡°Stop talking, and don¡¯t make any sudden moves. Young man, you are in danger.¡± Getting more audacious, huh? From handcuffs to threatening with force, do I really look like some easy-to-bully college student? Gongsun Ce twisted his neck, thinking that the overall situation was paramount. He suppressed the anger that was about to burst forth, making one last effort, ¡°I assure you I will cooperate, but please first tell me about the dragon worshipers¡ª¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alice stood her ground, ¡°Follow my instructions.¡± A fuse leading straight to a powder keg ignited in his heart, causing Gongsun Ce to abandon his effort to suppress the rage within. He lifted his right hand, together with the handcuffs. ¡°Well then, Miss Alice. You have five seconds to retract your challenge to a duel.¡± Click! Telekinetic force, fueled by anger, bore down, and the handcuffs¡¯ casing twisted instantly, emitting a brittle crack of being overstrained! ¡°Hey hey, that was a special order of high-quality goods?!¡± Miss Alice let out a shriek, incongruent with her mature appearance. She had specially restocked it from the Wild Hunt¡¯s headquarters before departure, a customized product that claimed to withstand three seconds even in the hands of a Desolate FormMage. But now, that costly equipment was being ravaged by an unseen force before her very eyes, not even lasting half a second. One side of the metal ring was flattened by extreme pressure, while the other developed innumerable minute holes. Then, the silver ring broke into two from the center, before shattering into several unequal fragments! Chapter 7 - 7 3 Hunter Alice_2 ?7: Chapter 3 Hunter Alice_2 7: Chapter 3 Hunter Alice_2 ¡°Now it¡¯s broken, and in three seconds, I can just as well crush it into a ball before hearing your reply.¡± Gongsun Ce meant what he said. He made a fist, and the remnants of the handcuffs that had burst apart immediately gathered together in the air. Alice stared, raising her hand in bewilderment: ¡°Wait, is there any need to be this angry?! I didn¡¯t mean to pick a fight with you¡ª¡± ¡°There are three things I despise the most,¡± Gongsun Ce interrupted the Hunter¡¯s attempt at defense, ¡°from minor to major they are ¡®acts of impoliteness,¡¯ ¡®the indiscriminate use of violence,¡¯ and ¡®an insult to others.¡¯ S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just now Mr. Capro, although he launched a surprise attack, he formally issued me an invitation to a duel, which can be considered the behavior of a polite opponent. But you, you are different¡­¡± Immense telekinetic power kneaded the fragments together, smoothed out the metal surface, and formed a perfect cube. Witnessing this, Miss Alice covered her mouth with both hands, letting out a silent wail of despair. ¡°I¡¯m certainly much friendlier than that green Mohawk madman, right?! I used the handcuffs because¡ª¡± ¡°Of course, I understand you were concerned about my personal safety, but you weren¡¯t even willing to hear me out. Is it your wish to take control of the situation just like that, Miss Alice?¡± said Gongsun Ce frostily, ¡°I don¡¯t mind cooperating with your job, but you not only disrespected me, threatening me with your weapon. Alice Adar, you¡¯ve stepped on every landmine in my zone, I can¡¯t find any reason not to see you as an enemy!¡± At that moment, there was no trace of Alice¡¯s usual maturity. She miserably stared at the broken handcuffs, her face alternating between distress and bewilderment. ¡°Wait¡ª¡± ¡°Five seconds are up, are you ready?¡± Gongsun Ce flew up into the sky, looking down from five meters above at the lady he had met for the first time, ¡°Then let¡¯s get started. Superpower User, Gongsun Ce, is up.¡± Gongsun Ce feigned an attack with his right hand raised, as a display of threat, causing Alice to wave her hands frantically: ¡°Wait, wait, wait! Think about it, if we start fighting here, and if the companions of this guy take advantage of the chaos, that wouldn¡¯t be good, right?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s irrelevant to me; as a professional, it¡¯s something you need to consider.¡± ¡°You consider this area is residential, it wouldn¡¯t be good if we hurt innocent bystanders! It would scare the old folks and the little schoolchildren too!!¡± ¡°I can instantly move the battlefield elsewhere. As for the residents¡¯ feelings, you can rest easy, the citizens of this city have been through much hardship and seen a lot, even the old lady selling breakfast next door would approve of this battle to punish the impolite,¡± he said. ¡°Are all the old people in this city so full of martial spirit?! Just calm down¡ª¡± ¡°I am very calm. I¡¯ve spoken to you for so long, given you plenty of time¡­¡± Gongsun Ce clenched his hand, ¡°and yet, you refuse to offer me an apology.¡± The surging power stirred the air, causing turbulent winds in front of the apartment building, and an invisible telekinetic force materialized in his mind as a great hammer, smashing down from above! This attack served two purposes: one was, as he stated, to punish the impudent, and the second was to test the strength of the Hunter, Alice. Gongsun Ce controlled the force with precision, already having planned out his move: a moment before the attack would make contact with Alice, the gathered force would wrap around her like threads, restraining her on the spot. He did not believe this strike would take down an ¡°Impermanence Law Enforcer¡±; he wanted to see how his opponent would counter the attack. ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± Gongsun Ce¡¯s strike hit nothing but air, leaving behind only a taunting sigh in its wake. Alice had vanished from her spot, just as mysteriously as when she had first appeared. Gongsun Ce was not surprised; he was contemplating the means by which the Hunter had made her escape. High above, Gongsun Ce had a broad view and confirmed that this was not a simple illusion of disappearing into a blind spot through rapid movement, but a literal vanishing from the original location. An illusion ability? Unlikely, since no response occurred when the illusion was broken. An accomplice¡¯s help? No third-party presence was felt nearby. To put it bluntly, it was likely a Time-Space System ability related to movement¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Gongsun Ce glanced around the entrance of the apartment building. The stunned Capro still lay motionless on the ground, and the small blue orchid that Alice had stepped on when she appeared was still blooming in the shadow. Gongsun Ce formed a rough hypothesis in his mind. He dispersed his invisible power into threads, weaving a dense, impenetrable web within a 20-meter radius of himself. Then, Gongsun Ce closed his eyes and began to count in his mind. 1, 2, 3¡­ When he reached five, one of the countless threads in his web twitched notably, coming from a shadow formed by the sunlight at his flank. Gongsun Ce intertwined his fingers and imagined the form of the upcoming attack in his mind. He needed a strike powerful enough to impress, regardless of whether it was a Superpower User or an Impermanence Law Enforcer. With that thought, he had an idea. Invisible power, unseeable force, elusive energy dispersed, a different, new kind of power began to accumulate in his hands. This was tangible, visible, and capturable material¡ªcompletely different from invisible force, it was an ability to materialize thoughts¡­ The thread¡¯s activity intensified, and the Superpower User opened his eyes. Alice Adar stood in his shadow, her foot upon a tiny blue orchid. Alice suavely ran her fingers through her hair, smiling as she spoke: ¡°Have you cooled down your head now¡ªwhat on earth is that?!¡± Chapter 8 - 8 3 Hunter Alice_3 ?8: Chapter 3 Hunter Alice_3 8: Chapter 3 Hunter Alice_3 The reason for her outcry was the gigantic weapon in the young man¡¯s hand. It possessed an extremely wide and thick white hammerhead and a handle so slender it could shock a structural mechanics professor. This was a giant hammer commonly seen in children¡¯s animations in the United States, with the hammerhead thoughtfully hollowed out on both sides, marked with the inscription ¡°100T.¡± Before Alice disappeared, this weapon had never existed. It was a new weapon crafted by Gongsun Ce in these few seconds¡­ another power he possessed! sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°White Matter Hammer!¡± Without another word of waste, Gongsun Ce swung the hammer down. The hammerhead, larger than the entrance of an apartment building, smashed toward the Hunter, propelled by the triple acceleration of gravity, arm strength, and telekinesis! Alice¡¯s smile froze on her face, and the battle-hardened, experienced Impermanence Law Enforcer immediately made a decision, ¡°I¡¯m sorry! It was wrong of me to restrain you with handcuffs just now! I admit part of it was my desire to control the negotiations, but more of it was to protect you, truly I¡¯m very sorry!¡± Then the pure white hammer instantly dissipated, and Gongsun Ce landed back on the ground, nodding to Miss Hunter, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I forgive you.¡± ¡°Who exactly is being impolite here¡­¡± Miss Alice looked sullen, as if she couldn¡¯t muster a smile, ¡°Using such incredible power just to scare a girl¡­¡± ¡°Forgive my bluntness, but I believe a female professional who is obviously a few years older than me can no longer self-identify as a girl, just as I, at nineteen, can hardly be called a boy.¡± Alice glared at him, ¡°Say that again, I¡¯m only in my early twenties, at the prime of youth, and from every perspective, a girl!¡± Gongsun Ce sighed and shook his head, ¡°I was just telling the truth, if I¡¯ve offended you, then I apologize.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not to the point of offense¡­ just don¡¯t bring up age in front of a woman¡­¡± Miss Alice started to look gloomy again. Where had the cool demeanor she possessed when she first appeared five minutes ago gone, and just who was responsible for this? Alice with her strange breaking points, Capro unconscious on the ground, there were still many things to deal with, and now, having gained control over the negotiations, he could finally ask the question he cared most about. ¡°Please tell me, Miss Alice. What exactly are dragon cultists?¡± Alice hesitated for a moment, speaking hesitantly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask about the source of our powers first? I mean, you can tell that person isn¡¯t a Superpower User, right?¡± ¡°That can wait, please answer my question first,¡± Gongsun Ce insisted. ¡°Alright,¡± Alice said, ¡°You can guess from the name. Dragon cultists are a group of fanatics chasing after dragons, having seen the figures of dragons in books, visuals, and even in reality, mesmerized by that powerful force, even treating them as gods.¡± Alice looked down at the unconscious Capro with a complex tone, ¡°This group is the same¡­ He personally experienced the collapse of the Country three years ago, and since then he has viewed the Evil Dragon as a savior.¡± Gongsun Ce felt parched. Those ever-looming memories once again surfaced vividly in his mind. Three years ago, the collapse of the Country, the calamity from the underworld¡­ the Dragon Disaster¡­ ¡ª¡±I¡¯m adventuring¡­ for the sake of summoning the almighty God by taking risks!¡± Capro¡¯s statement flashed in his memory, compelling Gongsun Ce to face the worst assumption. He asked urgently, ¡°Them? Does Capro have accomplices?! What the hell are they trying to do¡­ summon a giant dragon?!¡± Alice took a step back, truly frightened by the young man¡¯s frantic demeanor. ¡°It¡¯s generally impossible, but in the worst case¡­¡± Alice spoke softly, ¡°I think it¡¯s possible.¡± Gongsun Ce stood there stunned, feeling in a daze as if he had returned to the fog-enshrouded capital of the Country, back to that tragic day many had lost. That distant past had caught up, carrying with it the pain and sorrow he had deliberately tried to forget. It was as if a massive wheel had started turning again, creaking after three years of stagnation, driving him forward. That irresistible contraption was called fate. Omnipresent, like a shadow. Gongsun Ce thought no further, as instinct and the past had already made his decision. He adjusted his glasses and gestured to the confused Hunter. ¡°What are you waiting for, Miss Alice?¡± Gongsun Ce said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Set off. Start the operation. Lead me to these maniacs¡­ and wipe out all the dragon cultists, not sparing a single one.¡± Chapter 9 - 9 4 Impermanence Law Enforcer ?9: Chapter 4 Impermanence Law Enforcer 9: Chapter 4 Impermanence Law Enforcer Three minutes after making the declaration to eradicate the giant dragon cultists, Gongsun Ce took Hunter Alice to his residence on the seventh floor of the apartment complex. Gongsun Ce was currently using his superpower to make a kettle levitate, using this as a cover for his embarrassment. There was no help for it. When the furious declaration was met with the disheartening response of ¡°Umm¡­ sorry to disappoint you, young man, I have no idea where they currently are¡­¡± no amount of urgency had any practical meaning. Therefore, until reliable information came through, both unanimously agreed to use the current situation as an opportunity for some basic interaction. ¡°Do you want cold water or hot water?¡± ¡°¡­I thought you would at least ask if I wanted coffee or tea.¡± ¡°I really can¡¯t brew any. If you¡¯d like some, I can order takeout for you, but I doubt it¡¯ll arrive in time.¡± Alice Adar surveyed the living space that seemed too expansive for a bachelor student, and gave a complex reply, ¡°No thanks, just a cup of cold water will be fine¡­¡± ¡°Please.¡± Gongsun Ce used telekinesis to move a cup of cold water in front of Hunter and sat down opposite her on an empty chair, with his hands empty. He extended a hand to the Hunter, ¡°Let me introduce myself. Gongsun Ce, as you can see, a superpower user. My ability is a rather special form of telekinesis that can be used for simple attacks, to assist with movement, or as a means of detection, as you just saw. It¡¯s faster when employing the invisible force for attack but more powerful when it turns into white matter.¡± Alice, holding the water cup, was somewhat caught off guard by this sudden introduction. This superpower user¡¯s actions never followed the script she anticipated, which brought her a sense of freshness. ¡°White matter¡­ you mean the ¡®White Matter Hammer¡¯.¡± Alice recalled the recent battle and shook hands with the young man. ¡°Alice Adar, a Hunter from the Country, Divine Communication Mage with the power of Brahma¡¯s appearance. My Divine Communication is Shadow Orchid, which allows orchids to bloom in the shadows, and enables me to move myself and anything I¡¯m touching among the blossoms.¡± Gongsun Ce remembered her dramatic appearance, stepping out on an orchid, and believed her power explanation was largely true. However, Alice conducted herself with considerable caution, because she had not mentioned the range or limitations of her abilities. ¡°You haven¡¯t laid all your cards on the table either, right?¡± As if seeing through his thoughts, Hunter Alice said with a smile. ¡°Of course not. These days, even newbies who have just awakened their powers wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± Alice took a sip of the cold water, unable to suppress her thoughts, and spoke candidly, ¡°You seem quite rational now¡­ S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. but you just suddenly attacked in a fit of rage out of nowhere!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a principle I¡¯ve always followed, learned from my respected elder brother. If the opponent shows no remorse, you beat them, correct them, and then not only apologies but also reforms are possible.¡± ¡°What kind of violence-prone elder brother is that?!¡± Alice exclaimed in frustration. ¡°And now you¡¯ve switched back to being like this, you¡¯re truly capricious!¡± Gongsun Ce pushed his glasses up, ¡°Mr. Gongsun isn¡¯t some narrow-minded man. Should I relentlessly pursue a lady who has already shown remorse? That would be rather tasteless.¡± Alice Adar was deeply puzzled. She couldn¡¯t reconcile the calm young man before her with the furious superpower user she had witnessed downstairs just three minutes earlier. ¡°No, no, no, the issue is you had that terrifying ¡®I¡¯m going to kill them all¡¯ look on your face just three minutes ago¡­¡± ¡°Anger should be directed to where it¡¯s appropriate. Maintaining a state of anger is of no help in resolving the situation.¡± As Gongsun Ce stated, maintaining combat readiness was futile at that point. He indeed wanted to annihilate all the dragon cultists, but the problem was that he didn¡¯t know where the enemies who had infiltrated the city were. And when Alice Adar also indicated that she had not received reliable information, all Gongsun Ce could do was to quietly send a ¡°search request¡± message to his trusted friends for help and then discuss topics of cooperation with this Hunter from the Country. Alice eyed him with suspicion, ¡°You weren¡¯t exactly calm earlier¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s undeniably Miss Alice¡¯s fault. Not to mention, initially approaching me with handcuffs wasn¡¯t a friendly gesture.¡± That¡¯s because Mr. Gongsun is good-tempered. If it had been a superpower user with a worse temper, the whole street might have disappeared at the moment the handcuffs were imposed. Alice rubbed her scalp in frustration and explained, ¡°Big sister here really had no choice¡­ Do you have any idea that evil spellcasters come with a built-in mental pollution? Just interacting with them risks a mental breakdown due to their influence. You actually fought hand-to-hand with an evil Mage of the Divine Communication Realm! My first reaction as a Hunter is to control you to see if there were any signs of becoming malevolent!¡± His rooster-head¡­ Mr. Capro even comes with a mental pollution aura? This made Alice¡¯s actions understandable. At the end of that battle, what she considered was probably not ¡°I took down a giant dragon cultist,¡± but ¡°Will this guy turn into a new lunatic?¡± Differences in experience, knowledge, and character had led to their distinctly different approaches¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not quite accurate to say we fought each other. It was Mr. Capro who attacked me in a semi-deranged state,¡± recalls Gongsun Ce about the skirmish, ¡°Does he have a grudge against superpower users?¡± Chapter 10 - 10 4 Impermanence Law Enforcer_2 ?10: Chapter 4 Impermanence Law Enforcer_2 10: Chapter 4 Impermanence Law Enforcer_2 Miss Alice shook her head, ¡°No, it¡¯s for predation, I guess. Capro probably wants to regain his strength by devouring your heart since the heart is the source of energy for you superpower users.¡± Predation, huh¡­ to Mr. Gongsun, was I just a piece of bread in his eyes? Only after being hurt did he see me as a dueling opponent¡ªhidden under that gentlemanly demeanor was a man as mad as his appearance. ¡°That so. Also, you mentioned something about an evil spellcaster¡­¡± Gongsun Ce mused thoughtfully, ¡°I guess that is a special kind of Impermanence Law Enforcer? Is Mr. Capro not just a madman, but also an Impermanence Law Enforcer who has gone astray?¡± Miss Alice fiddled with a short arrow between her fingers, somewhat surprised, ¡°You¡¯re very familiar with our industry?¡± What do you mean by your industry? It¡¯s as if being an Impermanence Law Enforcer is a profession one gets certified for after graduating from a vocational school. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say familiar; at best I have a slight understanding,¡± Gongsun Ce quickly sorted through his thoughts, considering how much information he should show. Alice Adar was a stranger with unclear background; showing off his knowledge to her without reservation was not a good idea. Moreover, he didn¡¯t understand the world of Impermanence Law Enforcers that much either¡ªit would be better to appear as an outsider who had ¡°dabbled¡± in it. ¡°Impermanence Skill is a technique that has emerged two thousand years ago, using mental power to influence reality. Giant dragons, being creatures that cannot be harmed by normal means, are vulnerable to the ¡®supernatural¡¯ power of Impermanence Skills, which is why it is also called Dragon Slaying Skill by the experts from the inner world.¡± Heroes from history and legends who shine through the dragon-slaying myths, like the founding emperor of the Yong Guang Empire, the Legendary Saint of the Ustus Federation, and ¡°King Morton¡± of the Kingdom of Morton, are often the most powerful Impermanence Law Enforcers of their time; in the inner world, this is common knowledge to everyone. Whereas in the outer world, these myths are regarded by ordinary people as synonymous with fictional stories. ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware, Impermanence Skills can be divided into seven different types¡­¡± Gongsun Ce pretended to recall, ¡°The proprietary term you use is ¡®Heart Aspect,¡¯ right? In order, they are Silence, Void, Spirit, Brahma¡¯s appearance, Desolate, Calamity, and Oddity. And then there are the five ascending ¡®Realms,¡¯ namely Spirit Illumination, Clarity, Divine Communication, Manifestation, and Creation Realm.¡± The ¡°Sky-piercing Snake¡± used by Capro earlier is his Desolate Form at the Divine Communication Realm, which is the Desolate Impermanence Skill within the Divine Realm. Gongsun Ce vaguely remembered that the Desolate Form Skill focuses on Body Enhancement, and that little red snake was very likely a part of Capro¡¯s own body. As for the technique used by Miss Alice Adar, the marvelous flower moving in the shadows, it seemed very much like the Brahma Form Skill that controls time and space. Given the small range of this technique, she must also be a Divine Communication Mage of solid combat strength. ¡°Oh well, at least you have some basic knowledge of the inner world¡ªit saves me from having to explain everything.¡± Miss Alice twirled the short arrow in her hand, like a student idly spinning a pen, ¡°So, what else?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing else¡ªthat¡¯s all the information I have.¡± This amount of information should be sufficient to make him appear like someone who had some knowledge about the inner world without being deeply involved. Gongsun Ce thought it was a good time to tell some half-truths and lies; he definitely couldn¡¯t excitedly tell a hunter he had just met, ¡°Impermanence Law Enforcers? Oh, I¡¯m quite familiar indeed, your direct superior the Seventh Knight is an old friend of mine, we used to play pranks on her for fun.¡± If he did, Miss Alice would surely see him as a charlatan full of flowery talk and promptly abandon any intention to cooperate. ¡°Hmph~~¡± Gongsun Ce was pleased with his performance, but Alice Adar didn¡¯t seem to be fooled. The female hunter carefully observed his face, a glint of wariness and sharpness flashing through her brown eyes. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Miss Alice reversed the arrow, pointing the tip at Gongsun¡¯s face, ¡°Big sister can tell. Your knowledge of the inner world is definitely more than what you¡¯ve described.¡± A bit of a challenge, this¡­ Contrary to her cavalier demeanor, Miss Alice had sharp instincts, which was befitting of an expert dispatched for tasks in the City of Skies. ¡°Please understand, I simply cannot lay all my cards on the table to a lady I¡¯ve just met,¡± Gongsun Ce replied with a polite smile, ¡°So, are you interested in collaborating? Just to let you know, I am doing this purely out of a sense of duty; I don¡¯t take money nor owe favors, I just want to get things done so I can rest easy as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Do you realize how suspicious you sound?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a well-meaning student with a heart for justice.¡± ¡°No thanks,¡± Alice finished her glass of water and stood up from the couch, ¡°Seeing as you¡¯ve been able to converse with me for this length of time, you¡¯re probably not influenced by that dragon madman. That means I¡¯ve fulfilled my required duty. Forget about this matter, young man! Crises concerning the city¡¯s safety will be resolved by a collaboration of experts. The best help you can provide is to stay in your own home and avoid causing trouble.¡± The blue-haired female hunter put down her glass and turned to walk towards the door, truly prepared to leave. Just as Alice¡¯s hand touched the doorknob, Gongsun Ce, who was seated on the couch, spoke up unhurriedly: ¡°¡ªMiss Alice Adar, you are pursuing two objectives simultaneously.¡± Judging by Alice¡¯s half-completed action, his words achieved the desired effect. Gongsun Ce summoned the memory of his encounter with Capro and began to share his conjecture. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 11 - 11 4 Impermanence Law Enforcer_3 ?11: Chapter 4 Impermanence Law Enforcer_3 11: Chapter 4 Impermanence Law Enforcer_3 ¡°Mr. Capro Boli fell from a great height, his transformed body extremely agile, not the type to make a rookie mistake while running across rooftops. Considering the short arrow on his ankle¡ªnow hanging at your waist¡ªthe conclusion is imminent. You wounded Capro in the rooftop battle and knocked him to the ground, hence my fight with him. For an official expert, however, letting a dangerous terrorist operate alone would be exceedingly irresponsible¡ªunless said expert was otherwise engaged, perhaps pursuing a more dangerous, more civilian-threatening giant dragon worshipper. That must be a cunning and powerful enemy; otherwise, he or she could not have evaded your Impermanence Skill so swiftly.¡± Alice turned around. ¡°How do you know I failed?¡± ¡°What else are you waiting for, Miss Alice? If you had successfully captured that big fellow, your main focus should be on him.¡± Gongsun Ce shook his finger. ¡°Let me guess¡­ You placed a tracking device on that enemy, like a locator, and now you¡¯re waiting for him to finish his stealth and expose his coordinates. Is that the right explanation, Miss Alice?¡± Alice turned to face him, sizing him up from head to toe. ¡°Very clever, young man.¡± There was a hint of admiration in the Hunter¡¯s words. ¡°Just a bit of reasoning and guessing, it¡¯s nothing much. By the way, my superpower is also very good at capturing fleeing enemies.¡± Gongsun Ce gestured invitingly. ¡°Would you reconsider the proposal for cooperation? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It would be a good arrangement for both of us.¡± Alice tapped the floor lightly with her toe, pulling out her phone from her pocket. ¡°You¡¯ve convinced me, young man. I think it¡¯s more beneficial to work with you than not. But allowing a civilian to get involved goes against principle; I need to clear it with my superiors.¡± ¡°Please, Miss Alice.¡± Gongsun Ce opened the window. ¡°Time is precious, I¡¯ll wait for you downstairs.¡± He leaped out of the window, safely landing using telekinesis, leaving the Hunter some space to report alone and giving himself some time to act solo. Gongsun Ce used his telekinesis to scout the window¡¯s edge, feeling somewhat relieved as he saw the Hunter making a phone call. He looked at his own door and, just as expected, found the unconscious Capro had vanished without a trace, along with any sign of their fight, wiped clean in just a few minutes. Everything was as if nothing had happened, with only a van driving by nearby hinting that the official personnel had finished their cleanup work. Gongsun Ce was indifferent¡ªit was Sky City, where superpower users and officials from various countries fought openly and secretly all the time, and where high-tech and secret forces would cover any internal traces to ensure most citizens could live peacefully on the surface. Living here long enough, anyone would have their secrets, and old city dweller Gongsun Ce was no exception. At that moment, he was harboring two secrets he was reluctant to share with Alice; the first was a message he had just secretly sent to his trusted informant and best friend, asking him to dig up information on giant dragon worshippers; the second was a message he had received that morning. [To Gongsun Ce] [Gongsun, this is Yan Qi. Been having nightmares often, right? Die once these next few days and end it all.] ¡°Tsk¡­¡± The content of the message annoyed Gongsun Ce partly because of the other¡¯s domineering tone, and partly because of the unnerving accuracy in which the other had pinpointed his situation. Gongsun had indeed been having nightmares frequently. Just before returning home, he had just revisited a past experience at a fast food restaurant¡ªa no doubt negative factor that could affect his combat, thus Gongsun felt unconsciously anxious. Chasing giant dragon worshippers, resolving his nightmares¡ªcould he handle both at the same time? Both were equally urgent and important matters¡­ At that moment, Gongsun sensed ¡°wind¡±. Wind¡ªthe flow of air, invisible and colorless, gathered in front of Gongsun¡¯s apartment entrance to form a strange humanoid figure. It looked like a bald muscleman, but its body was not made of flesh, rather it seemed to consist of a translucent gas. ¡°Hey, you.¡± The gas-headed man stared at Gongsun, his tone unfriendly. His voice buzzed through the air as he spoke, reminding Gongsun of a summer fan. ¡°Seen, Capro? Or perhaps, the Hunter¡­¡± Gongsun responded with a smile that could be described as cheerful. ¡°I have, sir,¡± he replied enthusiastically. ¡°I just knocked him unconscious five minutes ago, and he¡¯s probably being interrogated by official personnel right now.¡± The translucent face of the gas-headed man showed clear annoyance, his gaseous body gathering sharp wind blades, preparing to strike Gongsun with the fury of thunder. Suddenly, the bald man¡¯s face showed a stunned expression. ¡°You¡­ Uh!¡± The translucent body quickly became a solid human form, he groaned softly, and collapsed silently on the ground, passed out. This was yet another practical use of telekinesis¡ªGongsun had the urge to claim so, but unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t had the chance to act before this unfamiliar Impermanence Law Enforcer fell. And the culprit who caused the invisible man to faint was none other than another newcomer standing before Gongsun. This man had black mid-length hair, wore a refined suit, and had a handsome, elegant face as if he were a professional butler from a foreign noble family. Without much effort, Gongsun imagined the full story of what had just occurred: the man in the suit had sneaked up behind the gas-headed man, slapped his back, and the enemy, who seemed to have his body turned into elements, was instantly defeated and fell to the ground. It was a clean and concise strike, quite his style. Smiling pleasantly at Gongsun, the man in the suit pulled on his white gloves: ¡°I happened to be passing by and lent a little hand. Ran into some trouble, Gongsun?¡± Gongsun sighed, speaking to his close buddy. ¡°You think too much, Mr. Shiyu. Mr. Gongsun¡¯s life is just as normal as every other day.¡± That was a lie. Just like every other day, today Gongsun Ce was also lying to his friend. Chapter 12 - 12 5 Gugu Gugu ?12: Chapter 5 Gugu Gugu 12: Chapter 5 Gugu Gugu Mr. Shiyu¡¯s full name is Shiyu Lianyi, a superpower user from Zero Island and one of Gongsun Ce¡¯s best friends. At this moment, Mr. Shiyu¡¯s face showed a troubled smile. ¡°Gongsun, sometimes silence expresses refusal better than a poor lie.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°But silence seems very impolite, right? Being silent towards a friend who comes to help enthusiastically makes one seem like an ungrateful enigma,¡± shrugged Gongsun Ce, ¡°it rather gives off a ¡®help me out quickly if you notice I¡¯m in trouble¡¯ kind of mysterious helplessness, so lying is actually more useful.¡± ¡°Is that really okay?¡± blinked Shiyu Lianyi, ¡°Getting involved in something too dangerous might worry Qin Qianbai.¡± The image of the young lady flashed through Gongsun Ce¡¯s mind, making his speech somewhat guilty: ¡°You¡¯ve got to trust my solid strength, don¡¯t you think Mr. Gongsun would crash right at his doorstep?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Gongsun, being the famous Demon you are, I worried too much,¡± clapped Mr. Shiyu, ¡°Surely, a common Impermanence Law Enforcer wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against your unbeatable Instant Spiral.¡± I always feel like this guy is playing both sides. Dragging out his words, Gongsun Ce responded: ¡°Ah yes, yes, Mr. Gongsun here is a veteran superpower user, not quite on the same level as you, a mind-reader with no combat capability~¡± Shiyu Lianyi¡¯s superpower is ¡°mind reading.¡± He can establish communication with others in his mind at will, enabling secretive mutual communication. This ability was quite convenient for communication on ordinary days but wasn¡¯t very helpful in direct combat. Therefore, Mr. Shiyu didn¡¯t rely on his superpower as his main strength in battles. Gongsun Ce brought up this ability intentionally to give his friend a clear signal: If you want to maintain the status of an ordinary superpower user, better not get involved in this. For your own sake, better not concern yourself with my affairs. Shiyu Lianyi blinked, his voice instantly arose in Gonsung Ce¡¯s mind: (Gongsun¡ª) But before he could finish his mind speech, another lively voice interrupted their conversation. ¡°Lianyi, what are you sneaking around Gongsun Ce¡¯s building for?¡± Running up with that call was a blonde girl wearing a top hat. She had deep facial features, dressed in a white shirt, black coat, and brown long pants skirt, her appearance and extroverted personality clearly indicated she was a student from the United States. This blonde with a sovereignty-announcing aura pressed against Shiyu Lianyi¡¯s head, forcing him to look together at the unconscious bald strongman on the ground. She frowned and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did a fight spill right up to your doorstep?¡± Gongsun Ce and Shiyu Lianyi exchanged a glance. (Gongsun.) (Understood.) The two quickly reached a consensus on ¡°excluding someone from the involvement,¡± and Shiyu Lianyi spread his hands, seriously explaining, ¡°This gentleman just challenged Gongsun Ce to a duel, Kardesia.¡± Gongsun Ce helped the unconscious strongman up, putting on an impatient look: ¡°Got taken down by Mr. Gongsun in one move¡­¡± ¡°Tch! What a bore,¡± Kardesia¡¯s excitement quickly turned into disdain, ¡°I thought something exciting was going to happen, but it¡¯s just another superpower brawl. Come on Lianyi! Let¡¯s go to the aquarium in the Ferocious Wing District, we must find the black and white striped Biochemical Seal today!¡± ¡°How could you drag Mr. Shiyu away like that!¡± Gongsun Ce protested loudly, ¡°Do you have the heart to leave me to clean up this mess by myself?!¡± ¡°Have the heart, deal with the enemy you knocked out yourself~~¡± Kardesia, pulling Shiyu Lianyi by the collar, walked aside, her every move carrying the haughtiness of a villain¡¯s female sidekick dealing with a minion. Uninformed bystanders might think this was some new form of bullying, while all of their friends knew the young man in the suit quite enjoyed it. Shiyu Lianyi smiled bitterly at Gongsun Ce and waved his hand, activating his mind reading once more. (Sorry, Gongsun, I have to excuse myself first, let¡¯s handle it as usual then.) Responding, Gongsun Ce adopted a Northern Empire dialect tone: (Right, no interference, keep distance, we old Cangdu City folks like it this way!) Don¡¯t pry into others¡¯ secrets. Don¡¯t get involved in others¡¯ private affairs. Maintain a proper distance on the surface, keep relationships from becoming too close to prevent others from being affected by one¡¯s troubles. That¡¯s the social rule of Cangdu Sky City that every superpower user must remember. For outsiders and youths, this odd idea is quite hard to understand. However, for those who live in special environments, their perspectives often change. Born from an abnormal environment and supernatural forces, it made him such a superpower user¡­ Such people would be met with hostility by ordinary folks outside, leaving them speechless. ¡°¡­¡± As he pondered, Gongsun Ce¡¯s eyebrows twitched. The telekinetic thread he had earlier extended to his own window reacted at this moment, informing him of Alice¡¯s disappearance from the room. Almost simultaneously, a small blue orchid sprouted from Gongsun Ce¡¯s shadow. The blue-haired female Hunter stepped out of the flower, casually flipping her long hair. ¡°Negotiations over! You¡¯re getting your wish, boy. Considering the special circumstances this time, the Wild Hunt has given special approval¡ªHey hey hey, what¡¯s the deal with this guy?! Isn¡¯t he one of the targets?!¡± ¡­Can¡¯t you maintain your competent persona for even half a second longer? Getting all worked up over such a small thing really makes one worry about your professionalism. Hunter Alice had already bent down to examine the bald man who was knocked down while screaming, while Gongsun Ce explained in a normal tone, ¡°He seems to be an associate of Mr. Capro who came to trouble me just now and was instantly subdued.¡± ¡°This guy¡¯s named Dongcheg Zhanger, his strange phase ¡®Divine Communication¡¯ has the power to control airflows¡­ Even I spent a good deal of effort this morning just to defeat him, how did you bring him down?¡± ¡°With a finishing move, ¡®biu¡¯ just like that.¡± Speaking of which, you blew him up again this morning¡­ After all, he¡¯s an enemy with an energy-based body; your fighting prowess is quite impressive. ¡°Lying again.¡± Alice said without looking up. After a quick check of the bald man¡¯s belongings, she clapped her hands and stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go, nothing new here. This guy is a minor character, likely clueless about the core plan. Let¡¯s leave the interrogation to the professionals and go after the real big fish.¡± ¡°Miss Alice, did you find that target?¡± The blue-haired lady lifted her phone, which displayed a satellite map of Cangdu. A blue orchid-shaped dot was blinking within a fan-shaped area extending to the left of the city¡¯s central axis. Alice clenched her fist with self-satisfaction, ¡°Although he escaped earlier, I managed to do something at the last moment¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s the signal from the tracker you secretly attached using your Impermanence Skill.¡± ¡°¡­How did you know?¡± ¡°It seems the quality of your tracker isn¡¯t very good, which is why that person couldn¡¯t receive the signal after sneaking into certain areas, and only now did it react. If you had given me a few more minutes, I could snap a photo, make a call, ask a friend, and even figure out what kind of tracker you used.¡± Gongsun Ce glanced at the map and started running, ¡°Looking at the map, that guy is in Fixed Wing District. Do you know the way there?¡± Hunter Alice quickly followed, ¡°I plan to call a cab and follow the navigation.¡± ¡°You really are so professional. It¡¯s already 5:10 PM; you¡¯ll be stuck in a traffic jam in the central area fifteen minutes later if you take a cab to Fixed Wing District. Follow me instead. Our city has no subway, and the roads are congested at this time; it¡¯s more convenient to travel by air.¡± ¡°By air? I underestimated you, didn¡¯t think you owned a helicopter?¡± Just by looking at the expression on the young man with gray hair, Alice knew she had guessed wrong. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s like those seen in the news, used for filming fantasy movies, retrofitted from old military equipment¡ªairships?¡± ¡°What are you thinking about.¡± Gongsun Ce pushed his glasses up, ¡°To travel by air here, of course, we rely on birds.¡± ¡°¡­Birds?¡± Alice blinked, completely puzzled. ¡¤ ¡°Ah¡­ Ah??¡± Thirty seconds later, Alice Adar stood on the rooftop of a tall building, involuntarily uttering the astonishment above. At this moment, Alice had a rare realization that she was indeed in an extraordinary place, for the creature she saw was both comical and a bit mad. At first glance, it was simply a proportional enlargement of a certain creature from nature. Only upon closer inspection could one see the green lines on its beak indicating biochemical modifications. It had pristine white feathers, animated eyes, and a fan-shaped spread of tail feathers, roughly the size of a sedan when its feathers were folded. In the simplest and most understandable words, it could be described as a bird, a pigeon. A white, enormous, pigeon. The giant pigeon turned its head towards the stunned Alice, emitting a lofty sound similar to a car horn: ¡°Coo coo!¡± Chapter 13 - 13 6 The Uninvited Guest ?13: Chapter 6 The Uninvited Guest 13: Chapter 6 The Uninvited Guest Since the establishment of Sky City, biotechnological experiments had become the focal point of the city¡¯s scientific research direction. No one understood why the gathered international researchers, commonly referred to as ¡°White Coats,¡± wouldn¡¯t focus their energies on developing advanced materials or superpowers. Instead, they spent a vast amount of funds on tormenting those poor experimental animals. Regardless, the White Coats did just that. Over the decade, they created numerous inexplicable biotechnological test subjects, such as a biochemical gorilla that could smash skyscrapers with one slap, a biochemical crocodile capable of crushing diamonds, and an endlessly reproducing biochemical slime¡­ 90% of these bizarre creations only caused trouble for the citizens. The remaining 10% enriched the lives of superpower users in certain ways, like the new type of horse-drawn carriage pulled by a biochemical horse, a sewage plant that used a biochemical meat wall for organic matter treatment, and the loyal and reliable biochemical three-headed dog¡­ And the avian buses that soared high with the citizens. ¡°King Morton¡¯s beard¡­¡± Alice couldn¡¯t help but exclaim again. The middle-aged worker who had just sold tickets and was walking over seemed to think it was a compliment in a foreign language. While adjusting a pigeon¡¯s white feathers, he struck up a conversation with a new customer, ¡°Nice bird, eh? Do you think so too, miss?¡± Hunter awkwardly nodded, ¡°The feathers are very pretty.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just me boasting, but Big Dove here is the friendliest bird we have!¡± the uncle spoke with a strong northern Empire accent, ¡°White birds are great, no flashy colors. We also have a large white phoenix-headed parrot next door if you¡¯re interested, I can take you to see.¡± Alice couldn¡¯t deny that she was momentarily curious, after all, who wouldn¡¯t want to see such a large parrot? But before she could even inquire¡ªnot that she would waste time just out of curiosity¡ªGongsun Ce beside her spoke up, ¡°No thank you, we have some urgent business in the Fixed Wing District and are short on time.¡± ¡°Alright, will fly immediately. Do you need helmets and windbreakers?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t need it, just get one for the lady here.¡± The worker installed a saddle-like device on the pigeon¡¯s back, and Alice donned the flight gear, pointing towards the pigeon¡¯s back. ¡°Sitting on the back of a pigeon to fly?¡± ¡°Sitting on the back of a pigeon to fly.¡± ¡¤ Seconds later, Big Dove spread its wings and flew towards the sky, leaving behind several giant feathers and a screech from Hunter. ¡°Yah¡ª!¡± Her view rushed upwards to a height even more breathtaking than the top of a skyscraper. The airflow above the city sneaked through gaps in her helmet, allowing Alice to smell a different scent than usual. Reason told Hunter that the air she was in contact with was no different in essence from the breathable air on the bustling streets below. But the sight of white wings flanking her view and glimpses of streets through feather gaps made the air seem extraordinarily fresh. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as Alice was about to say something, she noticed the view ahead was overtaken by pure white: a towering sky-reaching tower was blocking Big Dove¡¯s flight path, appearing like a massive wall to her eyes as they flew at high speed. It seemed the newly flown trio might crash, but the veteran passenger Gongsun Ce signaled to the pigeon. Big Dove tilted its body, barely flying past the edge of the white giant tower, avoiding the worst outcome. ¡°What is this?!¡± Alice shouted. ¡°It¡¯s a thorn,¡± Gongsun Ce answered from behind her, ¡°We are now in the Thorn District, that white giant tower is the symbol of this area.¡± Hunter suddenly remembered the knowledge she had crammed on her way here. The Thorn District was said to be a rare place in Sky City that still preserved large amounts of giant dragon remains, hundreds of bone spurs rising from the ground that was once the dragon¡¯s spine, standing arrogantly for some unknown purpose. Modern technology was futile against them; even high-vibration particle blades could not scrape even a bit of powder from these spurs. Alice had thought she would see bone spurs as long and wide as several meters, standing on either side of the road like white utility poles. But now, as she looked far ahead, she saw towers of pure white rising from the depths of the earth, extending straight to the canopy of this flying city, resembling the mythological sky-reaching towers. ¡°My God¡­¡± Alice muttered softly. At this moment, she finally realized how ludicrous her previous imaginations were and how minuscule human thought was in front of the entity known as the dragon. Yet, she also felt rare excitement and joy, for this was a sight she had never witnessed before¡­ a spectacle unimaginable to most for a lifetime. Suddenly, a strong wind pressure hit, blowing her body backward. Alice was about to resort to a ¡°little trick¡± to solve the problem when she realized the wind had weakened, as if an invisible barrier had appeared beside her. She looked towards the young man in front. Gongsun Ce sat upright on the pigeon¡¯s back, a stark contrast to her looking around. The young man¡¯s voice sounded a bit distorted in the howling wind, ¡°Passengers not very strong in abilities or who are a bit timid opt for the slower, more expensive aerial bird cars. Riding directly on a bird¡¯s back is chosen by those confident they can safely reach their destinations; in case of accidents, the rental side bears no main responsibility. I guess you have your own methods, but covering one more person isn¡¯t much trouble for me.¡± Chapter 14 - 14 6 The Uninvited Guest_2 ?14: Chapter 6 The Uninvited Guest_2 14: Chapter 6 The Uninvited Guest_2 ¡°You¡¯re quite the gentleman, I might just fall for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a compliment, then.¡± Alice simply took off her helmet, letting her blue hair flutter in the air. She gazed down at the buildings that looked like miniatures from high above, down at the passersby who had turned into tiny dots. The city atop the giant dragon¡¯s back was so vast that her sight could only reach another variety of street view, not the end of the sky city. The hunter slowly stretched out her hands to either side, feeling the cerulean expanse with her skin. She had never been so close to the sky. Gongsun Ce wanted to remind his passenger not to be too capricious and to be careful of falling, but before he could say a word, he heard a burst of silvery laughter. The laughter sounded so joyous, so exuberant, like that of a child on a trip, it was hard to imagine it came from a hunter of this world. ¡°You seem very happy.¡± ¡°Ah, yes, really¡­ very happy. It¡¯s like a ludicrous story from a fairy tale! I never imagined I¡¯d be soaring through the skies on a pigeon!¡± ¡°I thought you as an experienced hunter might have some sort of undead horse as a mount.¡± ¡°What do you take an Impermanence Law Enforcer for? It¡¯s not that things fitting your description don¡¯t exist, but if I could afford such things, would I still need to work for the Wild Hunt?¡± Alice stared dreamily at the sky. ¡°So happy.¡± Unconsciously, she repeated her earlier words. ¡°This might be the most joyous moment I¡¯ve ever had¡­ no, perhaps, from my birth till now.¡± The superpower user had wanted to turn around, but he paused when he heard this. It was then that he realized the everyday scenery that many residents of this city took for granted could be a precious, once-in-a-lifetime experience for people from the outside. Was what he heard a heartfelt sentiment from this woman? He didn¡¯t have Alice¡¯s extraordinary intuition to judge the truth without foundation, but he was willing to believe that within these sighs was contained real emotion. ¡°Then make sure to enjoy it.¡± So, he didn¡¯t retort with teasing words as before, but rather gave a flat response without real significance. The silence between them lasted for a few dozen seconds. The young man guessed that maybe Alice was still immersed in her recent thoughts. After a few more seconds, her voice came from behind him, ¡°Are you mentally prepared? The battle we¡¯re about to engage in is a matter of life and death.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been ready for a while. But are you, Miss Alice, prepared to trust me to some extent? Because if we trip each other up during the battle and end up getting taken out by the giant dragon¡¯s worshippers, well, I¡¯ll have to respectfully decline.¡± ¡°Heh, big sister here is a mature member of society, not like you college kids.¡± Alice grabbed his shoulder, ¡°If we agreed to cooperate, that means we¡¯re partners! Just don¡¯t blame me for bossing you around~¡± ¡°Likewise, please don¡¯t forget that I also have the right to ask you to do things.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, where¡¯s your gentlemanly decorum?¡± Alice pouted, ¡°Alright, be serious. Take advantage of this time before landing to go over the intelligence on our enemies and to broaden your understanding of the Impermanence Skill¡­¡± The big pigeon flapped its wings, soaring over the Thorn District during their conversation and reached the central district brimming with academies. Following the guidance of the chip in its brain, it chose the appropriate flight path, turning its head towards the left side of the giant dragon, and soared with wings spread towards the Fixed Wing District, established on the giant dragon¡¯s left flank. A mix of commercial skyscrapers hid modest residential apartments, and the streets were lined with shops and various countries¡¯ masters¡¯ dojos and martial arts schools. The imposing shadow of the Thorn District was absent from the sky, overshadowed by an intricately woven web of overhead bridges. These structures, along with the aerial traffic lanes, were rapidly shifting in accordance with the traffic signals to alleviate as much of the rush hour stress as possible. This was the Fixed Wing District, the left wing of the City of the Firmament, the second-largest residential area in the city, and home to the city¡¯s largest port. It was a transportation hub that handled countless goods daily, situated at the edge of the district. Now at 5:43 PM, it was the time when students got out of school. The main thoroughfares were clogged, with bio-horse carts, trucks, and sports cars packed tightly in a fight for survival on the road, while energetic Superpower Users dashed along the pedestrian walkways, riding on Fireballs and lightning. The United States-made single-passenger airboats and a few flying Superpower Users shuttled back and forth above the heads of the crowd. Gongsun Ce and Alice had just leaped off the back of the big pigeon thirty seconds ago, and were now swiftly running towards the position indicated by the transmitter, blending into the crowded human tide of the fast-paced city. ¡°Has the devotee moved, Mister?¡± ¡°The signal indicates he¡¯s still in the area we locked onto, either he¡¯s certain he¡¯s completely shaken us off and is resting, or he¡¯s found the transmitter and plans to set a trap instead. I hope it¡¯s the former.¡± ¡°Are you sure there¡¯s nothing wrong with your transmitter that takes more than ten minutes to respond after being installed?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he run off to the sewers or underground¡­ ah, not underground, I don¡¯t know what you call it, the place under our feet, hiding there so no wonder there was no signal!¡± Such a cheap transmitter! That¡¯s the thing with technology products outside the city, you just can¡¯t trust them! Gongsun Ce glanced at the map and planned his route in his mind. ¡°That way¡¯s the unloading dock area. If we get past the overpass up ahead, we can reach it. Gogogo!¡± They ran across the pedestrian overbridge where dynamic screens on either side were broadcasting the evening news: Today, more precious artefacts were unearthed from Lishan Site No. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 1 in Kongtong Province of the Empire / Zero Island¡¯s major criminal, Shiyu Ling, still on the run / Cecil Laboratory at Central United University in City of the Firmament announces pleasing results from cyberspace experiment¡­ Following the news bulletins were advertisements for the new CD from local idol Xingli. Under normal circumstances, Gongsun Ce would have taken this opportunity to discuss the matter in depth. But now, his mind wasn¡¯t on these distractions; his focus was entirely on the impending fight. ¡°Are you sure you want to go with that risky battle plan?¡± Alice asked. The two ran down the escalator; the dock area marked by the signal was almost within reach, ¡°From your description, this enemy seems a bit tricky¡­ so I¡¯ll take the lead. Better I get hurt than let him escape again.¡± A few dozen meters from the dock area, Gongsun Ce could already see the silhouettes of several huge bridge cranes. ¡°Do you know what to do if something unexpected happens, boy?¡± ¡°Plan B.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Adapt accordingly.¡± ¡°Now I believe you¡¯re experienced. Let¡¯s go up!¡± The pair stopped in front of the access control at the dock area. Looking up, several bridge cranes measured in thousands of tons were basking quietly in the light, their red paint almost merging with the sunset. Under the bridge cranes, the differently colored containers seemed like child¡¯s play bricks, with such strong contrast it was almost easy to forget their actual size. They were getting ready to put the previously discussed plan into action¡ªwhen, at that moment, Alice¡¯s exclamation stopped the advancing youth in his tracks. ¡°Gongsun Ce, wait. The signal is moving towards us!¡± It seemed to be a trap. The Superpower User quickly prepared for combat, but a second later, he furrowed his brows. Not just because the man walking out of the dock was toying with an inconspicuous little black dot in his hand. It was also because this person¡¯s appearance was completely different from what Alice had described. The giant dragon devotee that Alice Adar had described had dark skin and long orange hair, but this man was dressed like a cowboy from the western United States, with a big pink mustache. Was the information incorrect, or had there been a change in circumstances? Gongsun Ce heightened his vigilance, observing the man¡¯s actions and movements. ¡°Heads up! It¡¯s been tough for you two to come all this way, but unfortunately, you¡¯re a bit late¡­¡± The pink mustache tossed the object in his hand, the miniature transmitter bathing in the sunset mid-air. He flashed a bright smile at the two, ¡°This is no longer your concern, Miss Hunter.¡± Chapter 15 - 15 7 Dissociating from the Demonic Body ?15: Chapter 7: Dissociating from the Demonic Body 15: Chapter 7: Dissociating from the Demonic Body ¡°You don¡¯t have a thing to do with this anymore, Miss Hunter.¡± The man with the pink beard, wearing a cowboy hat and jacket, looked like an actor straight out of a Western from the United States, if you ignored the color of his beard. His smile was bright and friendly, without a hint of ridicule, showing much more composure than Alice, who almost blurted out the word ¡°pervert.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Pink Beard glanced at Gongsun Ce and clicked his tongue, ¡°I made sure to evacuate the residents around here in advance; don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve involved the locals.¡± When he said ¡°Damn it,¡± he used a slang from the Ustus Federation, so Gongsun Ce guessed that Mr. Pink Beard was a visitor from the Ustus Federation. Alice frowned, ¡°I am Alice Adar, a Hunter from the Kingdom; this person is a local assistant I found. Who are you?¡± ¡°Seeking the help of Superpower Users for your mission? You guys from the Wild Hunt really know how to exaggerate!¡± Pink Beard whistled, took off his cowboy hat, and greeted them, ¡°I¡¯m White Young, from the Ustus Federation, an agent of Mithril Pillar¡ªthis young man, I know you must find our organization¡¯s name odd, but could you refrain from mentioning it, please?¡± Gongsun Ce really wanted to promise him, but unfortunately, he spoke faster than he thought. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. White, I am Gongsun Ce. Your organization¡¯s name reminds me of a fantasy story I dreamt up while sleepwalking through middle school.¡± ¡°I knew it! It¡¯s the 21st century, and I¡¯ve been saying it¡¯s time for a brand new, modern name!¡± White put his hat back on, dropped the grin from his face, and resumed the soft smile from before, ¡°Back to business, Miss Alice. I¡¯ve taken care of that guy, and the clean-up crew is on their way. You know what that means, right? We appreciate your help, and now it¡¯s time for you to rest.¡± Despite his friendly expression, he spoke in a tone that was firm and allowed no refusal, ¡°I¡¯m just a small player from the United States, and the experts from the Empire will only arrive faster. Technically, your Kingdom has rights here, but you don¡¯t need me to tell you that the Kingdom of Morton is too stretched thin to care for the affairs of the City of Skies right now¡­ Otherwise, why would they have formed the Wild Hunt that you¡¯re a part of?¡± ¡­ Alice pursed her lips silently, a response that left the outsider Superpower User at a loss for words. Agent White shrugged, ¡°Forget about it, Hunter! You¡¯ve done well enough, and no one is qualified to criticize you. I know what you¡¯re worried about, but we can only pray that those terrible possibilities don¡¯t come to pass. Everyone is just doing their best from their own standpoint, right?¡± The scene looked like employees from different departments of the same company competing for power and benefits, but the blue-haired woman remained silent, which struck Gongsun Ce as strange. He didn¡¯t think this Hunter was the type to accept silence; even if it meant speaking some depressing words of disappointment, she would usually engage in a spirited dispute. What was Alice Adar thinking? This silence seemed to make Pink Beard uncomfortable as well. He stepped forward, extending his hand that held a small transmitter, lying in his large palm. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be like that. Think positively; you can still enjoy sightseeing here for a few days before you leave¡­ Here, I¡¯m returning your transmitter.¡± Suddenly, Alice spoke up, ¡°I apologize, Mr. White, but I want to confirm something. Could you tell me how you took down that giant dragon worshiper?¡± White Young looked perplexed, ¡°What¡¯s there to say? I¡¯m a Strange Phase Mage. I first used my gun to draw his attention, then incapacitated him with my Divine Communication Skill by making him suffocate. The whole thing was easy¡­¡± Gongsun Ce inspected the agent¡¯s transmitter up close. Now that he was this close, he realized it wasn¡¯t black. Its casing was dark red, but in the setting sun, it hadn¡¯t been clear, making it seem black from a distance. A deep, dark red. Like the color of blood after it had dried. ¡°¡­I mean, did it really need to be such a big deal? I didn¡¯t even use my Heart Phase Weapon, and that green-haired biker had only just mastered Divine Communication¡­¡± Green-haired biker, Capro Boli¡­ Sky-piercing Snake? No, that¡¯s not right¡­! Gongsun¡¯s brain raced at full speed, and the reflexes honed from countless battles allowed him to make a split-second decision, ¡°Get down!¡± In an instant, the situation drastically changed. The dark-red blood stains on the transmitter¡¯s surface bulged like living creatures and morphed into three sharp needles that shot towards the trio! The use of powers was faster than speech. A white wall appeared just in time, blocking two of the needles. Meanwhile, the Superpower User did not hesitate to strike the agent into the air with Telekinesis. Agent White cried out in pain, not only because he was hit by the Telekinesis, but also because the last red needle had penetrated his calf, corroding his flesh and leg bone into a viscous liquid! Gongsun Ce¡¯s face was as still as water as he pulled the ambushed Agent White back to safety. The agent¡¯s face twitched continuously from the excruciating pain, yet he managed to speak, ¡°Highly corrosive¡­ very fast¡­ could be at the Peak of Divine Communication!¡± Even as he spoke, the wound on White¡¯s leg continued to melt away. The malicious power of the blood needle was strong, extending from the knee to the thigh, seemingly ready to kill White in one blow! Alice made a quick decision, ¡°First, get him to emergency care! You come with me¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on the giant dragon worshipper,¡± Gongsun Ce said calmly, ¡°Hurry and return quickly.¡± ¡°¡­Alright, take this!¡± Alice cast a deep look at him and tossed a Shadow Orchid before she and the injured agent teleported away through the shadows. The Hunter understood that now was not the time for argument; she chose to trust this voluntarily accompanying Superpower User. Gongsun Ce caught the flower before it could dissolve, and swiftly stuffed it into his pocket. He squinted his eyes and spotted a familiar stranger emerging from the dock¡¯s security gate. The person was dressed in a motorcycle jacket and had a green mohawk; it appeared to be Capro, who Gongsun Ce had previously knocked down. However, the stranger¡¯s demeanor was starkly different from Capro¡¯s, filled with aggressive evil and madness. ¡°Just one! What a hassle! I was supposed to catch the two of them in one go, and now there¡¯s another meddler¡­¡± The ¡°Capro¡± wiped his face with his hand, and the borrowed visage melted away like wax. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pinkish sludge squirmed across his face, quickly sketching out another set of features while his hair receded into his scalp, emerging anew as slender orange locks. In less than half a second, the man had completely changed his appearance. Now, he had dark skin and shoulder-length orange hair, unrecognizable from before, but still carried the same malevolent eyes. He glared at Gongsun Ce maliciously, hissing, ¡°Who are you, with which organization?¡± ¡°Gongsun Ce, just an ordinary Superpower User,¡± Gongsun Ce replied coolly, ¡°Your modus operandi is quite different from Mr. Capro¡¯s, isn¡¯t it? Are there such big differences even among giant dragon worshipers? That man, who harbors the spirit of a Knight, could never conceive of such despicable tactics.¡± ¡°Capro? Ha, ha, ha, ha! Capro is an idiot!¡± laughed the man with orange hair strangely, ¡°¡®Tierlos brother, this plan is too despicable.¡¯ ¡®Tierlos brother, this is too cruel!¡¯ He¡¯s always spouting such idiotic things, still believing in some crappy knight¡¯s honor; that¡¯s why he¡¯s the weakest!¡± ¡°So despicable and shameless makes one stronger?¡± Gongsun Ce mused, bowing his head as if in thought, ¡°Makes sense.¡± The moment he spoke, a sharp blast of Telekinesis shot out like a bullet, hitting Tierlos in the abdomen! Blood sprayed like a gust of wind, and organs slipped out through the wound, but an eerie smile spread across Tierlos¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re quite understanding, Superpower User¡­ Let¡¯s play a game then!¡± ¡°I am everywhere, and nothing can harm me. Desolate Form?Divine Communication, Disassociation Demon Body!¡± Tierlos¡¯s head burst like a smashed watermelon, and his entire body exploded into fragments! It was as if a bomb had detonated inside him¡ªcrimson liquid splattered like rain, shards of organs and chunks of flesh scattered like shrapnel. The malodorous sudden downpour left chaos in its wake; steel struck by the flesh dissolved like liquid, and the ground soaked in blood turned to sludge. Well-prepared, Gongsun Ce raised a double barrier of Telekinesis and white matter, fending off Tierlos¡¯s suicidal attack. As he sought the enemy¡¯s traces, he realized that Tierlos¡¯s body, blown to bits, had quickly dispersed after the attack, hiding among the countless giant containers in the dock area. Not a single drop of blood remained in the area where the fierce battle had just taken place, only a small lump of flesh in the shape of a mouth, which opened and closed on the ground, voicing Tierlos¡¯s challenge: ¡°Let¡¯s play hide and seek! The wide docks are our playing field, and the one caught must die¡ªa fair game, right? Heh¡ªha ha ha!¡± Gongsun Ce crushed the bizarre mouth with Telekinesis, recalling the information provided by Alice. Tierlos K., born in the country¡¯s capital Supibia, was a swindler living off scams three years ago; after the country¡¯s collapse incident, he resonated with the Evil Dragon and became an Impermanence Law Enforcer. He practiced the Heart Phase Weapon, specializing in controlling the body¡¯s Desolate Form, with a Realm of Third Rank in Divine Communication; during combat, he is known for¡ª Being able to control his own body at will, turning his blood and flesh into corrosive substances and poison! Chapter 16 - 16 8 Bloody Hide and Seek Part 1 ?16: Chapter 8: Bloody Hide and Seek (Part 1) 16: Chapter 8: Bloody Hide and Seek (Part 1) The basic nature of the dissociated demonic body could be glimpsed from the injuries of the agent White. Even if struck only once by the mutated flesh, the enemy would essentially lose the ability to fight, and a hit to a vital spot meant instant death. But what was more troublesome was that the characteristics of the Impermanence Skill didn¡¯t end with ¡°one hit, one kill¡±¡­ Swoosh! A blood needle flew out of the darkness and was crushed by the telekinetic barrier of Gongsun Ce. Yet immediately after, the blood drops that fell to the ground transformed into little snakes, and two foul-smelling spears of flesh attacked from behind Gongsun Ce, in coordination with them! ¡°The margin of error is really low¡­¡± Gongsun Ce snapped his fingers, an invisible force surged out instantaneously, and the violent storm tore the blood beads and flesh spears apart. He narrowed his eyes, carefully observing the results of his actions. As expected, the tissue that launched the spines had been crushed by his power. However, the flesh itself was not obliterated; it resorted to its old trick and flew off just like it did during the explosion, leaving behind only a small cluster of tissue that took the shape of lips and taunted, ¡°Waste of effort! Waste of strength!¡± This was indeed the most troublesome part. The flesh of the dissociated demonic body seemed indestructible by ¡°conventional¡± means. Even if cut into pieces, it could reunite; even if ground to a pulp, it could maintain its activity. This was akin to a certain degree of immortality, which caused Gongsun Ce some trouble. ¡°It¡¯s a bit troublesome.¡± Gongsun Ce idly crushed the babbling chunk of flesh with telekinesis. He tightly sealed the mass of flesh with telekinetic force, compressing it into a small red cube. Within the transparent cube, the flesh was struggling angrily. Gongsun Ce reached out and grabbed it, beginning to run through the mountain of shipping containers stacked around him. Boosted by telekinesis, the young man moved as swiftly as the wind, with red blood needles shooting from all directions, melting away the concrete floor and steel supports, but not a single one could touch the Superpower User¡¯s body. He continued to flip containers with telekinesis but didn¡¯t find any clues related to Tierlos¡¯s main body¡ªonly misshapen clumps of flesh waiting for him in the shadows. ¡°What a sorry sight, oaf!¡± Jeered the deformed lips, ¡°You¡¯re like a headless fly! Have you discovered that you can¡¯t do anything to me? What a huge joke! With such poor ability, you still have the nerve to call yourself a Superpower User!¡± ¡°Mr. Gongsun, I¡¯m rather helpless myself, I can¡¯t just smash this dock area to pieces, the damage would be too extensive.¡± Gongsun Ce said casually, ¡°By the way, I think bragging without causing any real harm is quite¡­ meaningless. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, if you haven¡¯t achieved anything in reality, no matter how much you say, you¡¯ll only appear incompetent, like a minor character vying for attention.¡± Gongsun Ce¡¯s response received a clear reaction; Tierlos¡¯s mouth turned blue with fury, shuddering with rage. Gongsun Ce noticed there was another ugly little hole next to this mass, looking much like an ear, which prompted a nauseating feeling in his stomach. ¡°You stupid goat! Brain-dead donkey! Shameful booger! Damned rat!!¡± Gongsun Ce always felt that one should concentrate fully during combat, but that didn¡¯t prevent him from throwing back a quip while on the run. ¡°How eloquent, you prattling sissy.¡± ¡°¡ªI¡¯m going to have your carcass filled with maggots in the sewer!!!¡± The enraged flesh jumped madly, exploding in front of Gongsun Ce like a grenade. Prepared, Gongsun Ce defended with telekinesis and continued to move according to plan. He had now reached the edge of the dock area, and another ten meters forward would take him to the giant rail elevator used for transporting goods from the ground. Gongsun Ce knew that unfolding a battle ahead would cause tremendous destruction, and he had no intention of simply running on. Planting his feet, he leaped up, propelled into the air by telekinesis! Hidden in the shadows, Tierlos watched this movement and immediately guessed: Gongsun Ce had been scrambling around this container port, seeking Tierlos¡¯s main body amidst the chaos. But now, realizing that blundering around was not going to work, he thought to take to the air to evade attacks and to look down from a high vantage point for anomalies. Too bad, the Superpower User had overlooked one thing. This was the battlefield chosen by Tierlos himself¡­ ¡°You fell into the trap, trash! Did you think I hadn¡¯t considered the possibility of the enemy flying!¡± Above the sky, a flash of blood. Five blood spears descended bizarrely from the heavens, striking viciously at various parts of Gongsun Ce¡¯s body with the aid of gravity! The attack from the sky was too fast; Gongsun Ce managed only to produce a shield of white mass in haste. And at this moment, Tierlos changed his tactics once more, the five blood spears exploding simultaneously, turning into countless blood pellets and pounding upon the white mass shield like torrential rain. The constant barrage pressed the shield back, eventually knocking the Superpower User himself down. Gongsun Ce tumbled into the containers. Tierlos¡¯s third trap was triggered at this moment. He had cautiously maneuvered the nearby flesh, filling the gaps between the large shipping containers with pulp. Now was the time for the trap to close, the long-hidden flesh flew out, numerous chunks of meat spewing blood, connecting with each other with strands of blood as silk to form a red net right below Gongsun Ce! Countless needles shot out from the red web, attacking Gongsun Ce¡¯s unguarded back. Tierlos¡¯s lips let out a loud, piercing laugh from the shadows, ¡°Ha ha ha ha! You¡¯re finished, kid. Let me tell you one last thing, everything you¡¯ve done has been meaningless¡­ because I don¡¯t have a physical body at all!¡± Tierlos had every reason to believe he had won. Human reaction times have their limits, and Gongsun Ce, focusing all his energy on the attacks from above, was bound to neglect his defense from behind. Even if, by chance, he managed to withstand these two rounds of attacks with telekinesis, the blood web that followed would leave him with no options. Battles involving supernatural powers were always like this, one wrong step led to another. The previous federal agent was equally strong, but hadn¡¯t he also been easily defeated after Tierlos executed a simple trick? Now it was the same, even if you were a Superpower User, when it¡¯s your time to die, you die all the same! Tierlos eagerly observed Gongsun Ce¡¯s face, wanting to savor the look of despair on his enemy¡¯s face before death. However, the young man¡¯s expression shocked him because this Superpower User did not show a hint of panic. Instead, he simply raised his idle right arm downwards! ¡°Subdue.¡± In an instant, the red web shattered, and the poison needles exploded. A wild force swept through all the space within ten meters, Terrain¡¯s traps disassembled by brute force devoid of any technical skill, whether it was meat paste or blood needles, everything was crushed by the overwhelming power, ground to dust by an invisible stance, flowing together with dissolving metal on the multicolored container walls. Tierlos found himself unable to make a sound, and Gongsun Ce casually dispelled the white matter barrier and stood firm in the melting metal container. ¡°You¡¯ve made two mistakes, Tierlos,¡± Gongsun Ce said evenly, ¡°The first is that my strength and reaction speed are higher than you imagined. The second is that I never intended to find your physical body¡­¡± Gongsun Ce opened his fist, and a red cube lay in his palm. Gongsun Ce released the cube from his power¡¯s constraint, letting the ball of flesh fall at his feet. It did not move, as if it were literally a piece of dead meat. ¡°I was just, testing the maximum range of your ability.¡± Gongsun Ce pushed up his glasses, ¡°You¡¯re not going to control it to morph into some strange weapon to stab me? Even just to gross me out would¡¯ve been fine. You were so close; it seems that it¡¯s not that you didn¡¯t want to, but that you couldn¡¯t.¡± Tierlos¡¯s mouth floated half a meter away from him, silent. Gongsun Ce knew his judgment was correct. ¡°So, at last, let me ask you a question¡­¡± Gongsun Ce reached into his pocket, touching the small blue Orchid. It was the object Hunter had entrusted him before the battle, the Shadow Orchid that could only bloom in the absence of light. The lightless pocket naturally met the conditions for activating the Impermanence Skill. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for my teammate to pick me up; what are you waiting for?¡± Gongsun Ce smiled slightly, reciting the passphrase Hunter had taught him, ¡°Shadow Orchid.¡± In that instant, Gongsun Ce disappeared from the spot. Darkness enveloped him, and he felt an inexplicable discomfort as if the elements comprising his existence had thinned. It wasn¡¯t a sensation of dissolving he had experienced before, but more like being scattered by some immense force, turned into a pattern on paper. The discomfort was fleeting, and the scene he saw transformed from darkness into a real image, covered with a gloomy filter. Alice Adar stood before him, standing atop the container, waiting. Gongsun Ce pictured himself emerging from a flat surface, like a diver breaking through the water¡¯s surface. The gloomy filter faded, and Gongsun Ce realized he was standing on Alice¡¯s shadow, with a small Orchid underneath his feet. Gongsun Ce rubbed his temples, ¡°Wow, that feeling¡­ You can use it multiple times, that¡¯s really impressive. How¡¯s Agent White doing?¡± ¡°I sent him to the hospital for emergency care. How¡¯s your situation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s clear now. His physical body is in a concealed location with a small range of mobility, likely somewhere high up. Do you need any more hints?¡± Alice chuckled with pleasure. ¡°Thanks a lot, if I can¡¯t figure out his location from that, I might as well not call myself a Hunter~¡± Amidst the conversation, a massive mass of flesh shot out from between the containers, transforming into a blood claw hurtling towards the Hunter. Tierlos¡¯s roar came from within the blood claw, infused with almost vindictive madness, ¡°Alice Adar! You damned¡ª¡± Alice tossed a short arrow without even looking back. In mid-air, the arrow became a jet-black streak of light, and the blood claw exploded into fragments on contact, its core mass nailed firmly to the ground, becoming a piece of dead meat devoid of any supernatural presence! Blood rained down behind Alice, who wore an expression of callous composure vastly different from the alarmed young woman she had been moments before. ¡°Get ready to die, Tierlos K.¡± Chapter 17 - 17 9 Bloody Hide and Seek Part 2 ?17: Chapter 9: Bloody Hide and Seek (Part 2) 17: Chapter 9: Bloody Hide and Seek (Part 2) Time was pressing, and the incident happened suddenly; the two had not made a detailed plan in advance, but had simply divided the basic tasks. Alice was responsible for distracting the opponent, while Gongsun Ce, who basically needn¡¯t worry about getting hurt due to his superpower, tried his best to figure out the limits of the opponent¡¯s abilities, aiming to locate Tierlos K¡¯s true body together. This was supposed to be an operation completed jointly by the two, but unfortunately, human calculations fell short of divine reckoning, and the appearance of Agent White disrupted all arrangements. Alice had no choice but to first take the agent for treatment, leaving Gongsun Ce to face the disassociated demon body on his own. Fortunately, as a superpower user with extensive combat experience, he saw through the opponent¡¯s tactics after only a few moves. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it, Miss Alice, where do you think the true body of the disassociated demon is?¡± As if testing his partner, Gongsun Ce posed the above question. Alice raised a finger and began to explain her thoughts, ¡°I¡¯ve found it strange since I¡¯ve fought him before¡­ You must have seen that mouth that looks like a biologically mutated product too, right?¡± Tierlos¡¯ sardonic flesh-and-blood lips grew an ugly ear on the side. ¡°The communication tool he molded serves both to listen and to speak,¡± Gongsun Ce nodded in agreement, ¡°But there are no eyes on that mouth.¡± Tierlos could freely manipulate his own body, and from the shape of those flesh masses, one could guess that he probably didn¡¯t even need the organs of a normal person¡ªanymore perhaps because of the limitations of his Divine Communication Skill, this man still needed tangible ¡°organs¡± for communication. He needed a mouth to speak, an ear to listen, but the most important organ for communication was not in front of them. ¡°How is Tierlos K monitoring our actions? That¡¯s the strange part. If he could really grasp our every move precisely, he should have launched an attack the moment I questioned the agent.¡± But that wasn¡¯t the case. From the moment Alice spoke to the moment the blood spurs shot out, two to three sentences had elapsed. This meant that Tierlos wasn¡¯t launching attacks based on linguistic slips. He launched the attack at the moment White reached out his hand¡­ That was a clear, visible action. ¡°This led me to think about sight, and then, about the pupils. Quite logical.¡± Snap! The Hunter snapped his fingers happily, ¡°Placing the listening flesh too close might alert us, so at that time, Tierlos could only rely on visible actions to time his strike. Where did he see this from?¡± Alice Adar pointed to the sky, ¡°Up there, of course! Tierlos has laid out a surveillance network in the air, and the core of that network is his true body. Only one place in this dock area could accommodate such a high viewpoint and ensure safety¡­ Being able to accurately see our actions from such a high place also indicates he must have specially enhanced his vision.¡± This also could explain why Gongsun Ce was attacked the moment he took flight. Tierlos had clearly prepared ahead in the air, the strike that came from above was due to this. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gongsun Ce absentmindedly adjusted his glasses, ¡°I¡¯m quite envious.¡± ¡°What are you envious of? Can¡¯t the technology of the Sky City cure even myopia?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the guts for that surgery, who knows if I might go blind in ten or twenty years.¡± As Gongsun Ce chatted with his friend, he kept surveying the surroundings. From the moment he used Shadow Orchid to teleport, the disgusting flesh mud had not appeared in front of them again. This was clearly related to the arrows in Alice¡¯s hands. If Tierlos split again, he would be weakened to death by the hunter¡¯s arrows one by one. Judging from the unsettling silence, Tierlos was preparing to try a different method to determine the victor. As the two walked out of the area dense with containers, the space in front of them opened up. In the center of the dock area, there were several huge devices with sturdy steel frames and red paint, supported by four pillars on which sat platforms capable of lifting tens of tons of cargo with telescopic mechanical arms. These machines, commonly known as shore bridges, could be seen at each dock. After exiting the dense container maze, they could finally observe carefully. Alice handed over a small telescope, ¡°Take a look at the sky?¡± Gongsun Ce took the telescope and looked up. The setting sun stained the sky a shade of orange-red. High, high above in the sky, extremely thin red lines hidden in the sunset formed a sinister ¡°net.¡± This network, maintained by countless bloodshot eyeballs, all turned their gaze towards Gongsun Ce the moment he looked up, concentrating a dangerous light in the menacing pupils! ¡°Miss Alice, don¡¯t move.¡± The moment Gongsun Ce detected him, Tierlos decisively abandoned the surveillance network he had painstakingly set up. He condensed his blood into long spears and exploded his eyeballs to provide propulsion. Thus, numerous red lights fell from the sky, the ferocity of the onslaught like a torrential rainstorm, targeting only this narrow area in an attempt to annihilate them both! Alice immediately grabbed her companion¡¯s sleeve, ready to flee, but the young man raised his hand voluntarily: ¡°Steady.¡± A hemispherical white barrier formed out of thin air, firmly protecting the two from the blood rain. No blood spur could penetrate this white substance, and all attacks were repelled, turning into blood water! Chapter 18 - 18 9 Bloody Hide and Seek Part 2_2 ?18: Chapter 9: Bloody Hide and Seek (Part 2)_2 18: Chapter 9: Bloody Hide and Seek (Part 2)_2 Alice whistled, ¡°Pretty tough, kid~¡± ¡°Don¡¯t describe my powers with such suggestive language, okay?¡± Gongsun Ce withdrew the ivory barrier and realized that the blood and flesh that had been scattered all over the ground had, within these few seconds, gathered and reformed into Tierlos¡¯s body. The orange-haired man stood in front of them, staring gloomly at Hunter Alice, his long-sleeved shirt¡¯s right sleeve hanging empty, as if he had lost his arm. Gongsun Ce remembered the effect of the Demon-breaking Arrow and immediately understood why Tierlos harbored such intense hostility towards Alice. ¡°Alice Adar¡­ good, you damn woman. Finally, you¡¯ve come¡­ I¡¯ll tear you into pieces with my own hands¡­!¡± Alice twirled a short arrow in her hand, her tone turning cold, ¡°Not thinking of running away this time, freak?¡± Tierlos breathed heavily, squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth, ¡°Run away¡­ Run away? Do you know how much flesh I¡¯ve lost because of you¡­ Do you know how long it¡¯ll take for me to reclaim those tissues, how long it will take for them to grow back? Run away?! I¡¯ll kill you¡­ Alice Adar, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± In these few seconds, Tierlos had undergone a drastic transformation: all of his skin had disappeared, replaced by a layer of thick blood covering his muscles; his fingers had turned into sharp claws, and several holes had split open on the back of his hands, ejecting chunks of blood and flesh. Tierlos, transformed into a blood demon, only had a face now as ferocious as a demon¡¯s, barely differing from before. Gongsun Ce found it hard to associate this appearance with a human ¨C was this the ¡°malicious transformation¡± the Hunters always emphasized? What kind of desire must one have, to turn their own body into such a state? ¡°Die for me!¡± Tierlos charged in with a roar. Alice aimed for his head and shot a short arrow, only to see the monster¡¯s head split open on both sides. The arrow passed through the gap without touching a single bit of flesh. ¡°Be careful, his reaction speed has increased!¡± As blood and flesh threatened to splatter them, Alice retreated into the shadows first. Gongsun Ce used his superpower to hasten his retreat, yet the blood-flesh monster surprisingly kept up. With a mere howl, it caught up to their movements, wildly slapping at the superpower user with its claws. Gongsun Ce immediately created a telekinetic barrier, but this time, the telekinetic shield shook precariously, about to be breached! ¡°Both destructive power and movement speed have increased; tell me the principle behind it. I thought he emphasized range and immortality, but his corrosion is already too much.¡± Alice sidestepped the monster¡¯s fist, ¡°I don¡¯t know! Don¡¯t use common sense to guess the actions of an evil spellcaster, whatever he does wouldn¡¯t surprise me!¡± ¡°Lend me a few of those short arrows.¡± ¡°These are Heart Phase Weapons fixed with the concept of launching and demon-breaking; they¡¯re of no use to you without the inheritance ceremony!¡± The Impermanence Law Enforcer¡¯s world sure was troublesome. ¡°Then I¡¯ll deal with him. I¡¯ll leave that side to you.¡± Gongsun Ce clenched his fist with one hand, aiming at the blood-flesh monster¡¯s midline. Tierlos had grown stronger, but at that moment, Gongsun Ce felt himself adapting quite a bit. Fighting a pile of flesh was one thing, but it was more to his preference to fight a person. ¡°Invisible Fist.¡± When fighting a person, one has to rely on fists. Centered around Gongsun Ce¡¯s right fist, an immense force appeared out of nowhere and struck the monster¡¯s abdomen. This invisible heavy punch sent one-third of its body flying, leaving only the lower half consisting of two stout legs, along with the head that floated up into the air! Tierlos was severely injured, but the solitary head laughed crazily, lunging towards the young man, ¡°Fool, this attack is useless on me¡ª¡± ¡°Triple Strike!¡± The delayed following two punches smashed down simultaneously, slamming Tierlos¡¯s head into the ground and the lower half running about was also smashed into mush! The superpower user had no intention to kill; he only knocked Tierlos¡¯s head down without flattening it. Gongsun Ce unclenched his fist and approached the orange-haired man¡¯s head lying in the pit, ¡°It¡¯s about time you surrendered properly, Mr. Tierlos, don¡¯t you think?¡± Tierlos let out a crazed laugh. ¡°Kind-hearted little idiot. You think you¡¯ve won?¡± Tierlos¡¯s head exploded suddenly before Gongsun Ce, just like when the man first appeared, turning into a storm of blood and flesh that assaulted him! Gongsun Ce retreated swiftly, using telekinetic forces to block the sudden attack. The explosively scattered abnormal flesh reassembled at a great speed, once again transforming into the appearance of the blood demon. Tierlos¡¯s shrill laughter rang out, ¡°Ha ha ha! You can¡¯t hurt me, louts. I¡¯ve already told you, I am without a true body!!¡± Gongsun Ce¡¯s expression was calm, completely unflustered. ¡°I told you just now, you should surrender¡ªit didn¡¯t occur to you at all to think about where Miss Alice went, Mr.?¡± Tierlos¡¯s face changed dramatically, and he suddenly looked behind him! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The setting sun cast shadows on the rows of shore bridges, creating long shadows on the docks. Alice Adar had moved away from the battlefield by now, shimmering within those shadows. When Tierlos turned back, she had just vanished from the shadows and hadn¡¯t reappeared on the ground. Tierlos looked up in panic at the control room at the top of the shore bridge, just as a streak of blue hair fluttered past the window. ¡°No, no, no, no, no, no, no!¡± Tierlos howled in despair, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, don¡¯t you dare!!!¡± He understood why the superpower user was not flustered; because he had been driven into a corner. Gongsun Ce and Alice had come up with the key after that round of probing. Tierlos would be in a place with a high vantage point but confined space, and the control room of the docks¡¯ shore bridge fit the bill. Alice Adar was using her powers to search through it, and the next shore bridge she was going to investigate was Tierlos¡¯s hiding place! Chapter 19 - 19 9 Bloody Hide and Seek Part 2_3 ?19: Chapter 9: Bloody Hide and Seek (Part 2)_3 19: Chapter 9: Bloody Hide and Seek (Part 2)_3 Tierlos¡¯s blood ran cold, as he realized he was about to fail. He was not afraid of death, but he feared failure, because with failure came the loss of everything. The hope of God¡¯s descent into the world, the hope of fulfilling his wishes, the hope of reclaiming the past¡ªall the hopes he treasured would soon be forever lost in the darkness! ¡°Never¡­ Never!!¡± In a split second, Tierlos made a decision that could only be described as insane. He immediately abandoned his struggle with Gongsun Ce and turned to run towards where his real body was located. Gongsun Ce instantly turned his telekinesis into ropes, firmly binding the enemy¡¯s movements, but even he did not anticipate Tierlos¡¯s next action¡ª Tierlos ripped off his own head and hurled it like a cannonball! The flesh of the giant dragon worshippers turned into a blurred shadow, as the disintegrating demonic body corroded everything, piercing through the support pillars at the bottom of several bridges at a terrifying speed. Alice had just stepped out from the shadows when she saw three cranes, each weighing thousands of tons, wailing as they lost balance and tilted forward to fall! Gongsun Ce instantly understood Tierlos¡¯s plan. A fall from tens of meters high would undoubtedly deal a heavy blow to Tierlos¡¯s true body, but he was determined to hinder Hunter¡¯s actions, willing to self-destruct and take Alice out with him. The Shadow Orchid is the Impermanence Skill that moves through shadows, but now all the shadows near Alice were caused by these bridges, making it impossible for her to escape death no matter where she ran! ¡°Miss Alice!!¡± Gongsun Ce genuinely tensed up, projecting his telekinesis forward, but at that moment, he realized that Alice¡¯s face showed no sign of panic. ¡°Ah, how dramatic.¡± Then, Alice Adar raised her finger. In an instant, an endless array of orchids bloomed on the side of the bridges, with Shadow Orchid taking over the shaded side of the three bridges, adorning the metal behemoths as if they were ruins covered in vegetation in a fairy tale forest! ¡°Shadow Orchid, misdirected teleport.¡± Thousands of blue blossoms bloomed at once, their grand blue light even overshadowing the setting sun. In a flash, followed by three loud crashes, dust billowed. The massive bridges crumbled as heaps of metal appeared twisted in the shadows all across the docks, under the force of spatial teleportation, like a modern industrial art exhibit. Only the parts belonging to the control cabins were deliberately preserved, crashing down dozens of meters behind Alice. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alice casually shot three arrows, and after three light sounds of glass breaking, Tierlos stopped moving. The ugly and twisted alien form dissolved amid trembles, collapsing to the ground like mud, becoming a literal pile of dead flesh. Alice flicked her long hair with flair, ¡°Now do you believe I¡¯m an expert, big sister?¡± Gongsun Ce unnoticeably dissipated the telekinesis rescue ropes and clapped, ¡°Impressive. Using teleportation ability to attack the opponent¡¯s true body can be a more terrifying force than any physical attack. Compared to Tierlos¡¯s disintegrating demonic body, your Shadow Orchid truly deserves the description of a one-hit kill.¡± ¡°Eh?!¡± Alice obviously didn¡¯t expect such straightforward praise, and after a moment of shock, she patted her chest with pride, ¡°Of course, I am very strong~¡± ¡°But,¡± Gongsun Ce pushed his glasses up, his tone growing more serious, ¡°have you considered what would happen if you didn¡¯t have enough strength to destroy all the bridges?¡± Alice¡¯s long hair shimmered in the orange-red sunlight. Hunter turned back to him with a sly smile, ¡°I¡¯m trusting that you would protect me.¡± Gongsun Ce remembered the dissipated telekinesis rescue rope and frowned, ¡°Miss Alice, you¡¯re a mature member of society now, I must say that kind of tone no longer suits your age.¡± Alice immediately became infuriated, ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind; I should take you down first, you damn brat!!¡± ¡°Look at that.¡± The two bantered as they walked towards the blood-stained wreckage of the control cabin. The battle had come to an end. Chapter 20 - 20 10 The Survivors Madness ?20: Chapter 10: The Survivor¡¯s Madness 20: Chapter 10: The Survivor¡¯s Madness ¡°Is Tierlos K still alive?¡± ¡°Being a Desolate FormMage, his selling point is his robust physique, so even a direct hit to his core just seriously, seriously, seriously, seriously wounds him.¡± Alice yanked open the operating room door of the shore bridge, allowing Gongsun Ce to see the scene within. Tierlos¡¯s core was a glass-like sphere. This deep red sphere was about the size of an adult man¡¯s fist, tightly bound by several muscle tendons to the cockpit¡¯s seat, and it contracted and then expanded regularly, pulsating rhythmically, prompting the Superpower User to think of a human heart. A short arrow was stuck in the surface of the sphere, and fine cracks could be seen at the point of entry, with fresh red blood flowing out from the wound. Gongsun Ce guessed that perhaps the ¡°shell¡± on the surface of this heart played some buffering role, which allowed the man¡¯s core to not become mush like most of his bodily tissues. Alice gripped the short arrow with her hand, ¡°You¡¯ve got nowhere to run, Tierlos.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The crimson sphere was silent, and the Superpower User issued a reminder, ¡°I think you¡¯ve noticed that he doesn¡¯t have a mouth right now.¡± ¡°¡­ I, of course, know that!¡± You obviously hesitated just now. ¡°Does the experienced Hunter miss have a solution in mind?¡± ¡°This¡­ that¡­¡± Alice pointed to a pile of dead flesh not far away, ¡°First, grab some flesh from over there, just the bare minimum is fine.¡± ¡°Telekinesis also has what you¡¯d call a tactile sense, so getting queasy isn¡¯t much different from using your hands, remember to treat me to dinner tonight.¡± ¡°You rich kid living alone still have the nerve to ask me out for dinner! At most, the most it can be is a convenience store bento, not a penny more!¡± ¡°Allow me to decline.¡± When it comes to money, he was unyielding, and one might say it¡¯s a trait of a working adult, though he hadn¡¯t seen other office workers behave like that either. Gongsun Ce went through in his mind all the adults he knew, from his own parents to the old lady in the building next door, from the Country¡¯s female knight to Mr. Qin, Qin Qianbai¡¯s grandfather, and not one of them was stingy in front of the younger generation. He thought it probably had nothing to do with income but was purely a character issue¡ªin the end, it was just this person being too offbeat. Gongsun Ce used telekinesis to pull a lump of rotten flesh into the cockpit, along the way trying his best not to think about which part of the enemy¡¯s body this was. To preserve his appetite for later that night and to divert his attention, he pulled out his pocket watch to check the time. The current time was 6:15 PM. The fight with Tierlos had lasted a little over twenty minutes, and the setting sun had already touched the edge of the distant dragon¡¯s wing. In a little while, the last rays of light would also disappear in the city¡¯s shadows, welcoming the night to the Sky Capital. He recalled Qin Qianbai¡¯s advice. Security was poor these evenings. Hoping it was just a coincidence, Gongsun Ce concentrated on the lump of dead flesh. ¡°Speak, where is your leader!¡± Alice clamored fiercely, gripping the short arrow, ¡°And what exactly is that ritual for summoning the Evil Dragon all about!¡± The flesh turned into the shape of a grotesque mouth: ¡°Didn¡¯t you idiots capture that fool Capro? Why waste time here, hurry and take the tools to interrogate him¡ªAh!¡± The Hunter¡¯s face turned stern as she pushed the arrow further in, prompting Tierlos to let out a pig-like scream. ¡°Cut the crap, that green-haired man is so deranged he can hardly utter human speech, it would be odd if you could get something out of him.¡± ¡°Deranged? I¡¯m dying of laughter, we¡¯re just closer to God¡­¡± Tierlos laughed weakly in pain, ¡°Shameless dead people, go ahead and kill me, but I won¡¯t tell you a word.¡± The giant dragon worshiper¡¯s words were full of resolution, and Gongsun Ce thought this commitment wasn¡¯t false. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He decided to beat around the bush, to see if he could gather more information from this man. ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about something else, Mr. Tierlos,¡± pushed his glasses up, ¡°Why do you want to summon the giant dragon? Records indicate you¡¯re from the Country, born and raised in Supibia, so you should know about the Country¡¯s collapse three years ago¡­¡± Gongsun Ce¡¯s voice unconsciously softened: ¡°You know how terrible that disaster was.¡± Tierlos stopped talking, and the cockpit fell into an unsettling silence. Just as Alice was about to coerce, she noticed that the mouth formed out of the flesh paste was tightly closed, then suddenly stretched into a ludicrous smile. ¡°I know!¡± Tierlos¡¯s voice suddenly rose, ¡°Of course, I know¡­ Do you want to hear the details, Superpower User? I was in Supibia that day, staying in my shabby house. As soon as Capro opened the window, he yelled, saying ¡®Bro, look, what a big fog.¡¯ I squeezed to the window to see, and it was indeed a great fog! Boundless and dull, I couldn¡¯t even see my own hand. Then Capro started yelling. He said ¡®Tierlos bro, your hand! Your hand is gone!''¡± Tierlos laughed crazily, his voice cracking as if on the verge of tears. ¡°I thought to myself, what silly talk, but when I looked down¡­ Hahaha! My hand really had dissolved! It dropped off like a lump of rotten meat, melted away like dry ice! Hahaha, I thought it was so ludicrous, hahaha, and then Capro dissolved too¡­ In an instant, we all died, everyone was going to die!¡± Miss Alice felt a wave of physiological discomfort in her stomach, she fought back the urge to gag and wanted to caution her companion to be careful, but noticed that Gongsun Ce¡¯s hands were trembling slightly. This Superpower User, who had shown no fear in battle against the dragon worshippers, was now looking pale as death. His fragile appearance resembled a long-dead corpse that looked as though it would fall apart at the slightest touch. ¡°Gongsun Ce!¡± Alice patted his shoulder, and Gongsun Ce jolted as if he had been shocked by electricity. Supporting himself on the cockpit¡¯s door, he whispered, ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ don¡¯t worry about it¡­¡± He was lying. Alice didn¡¯t need any tricks to see that. But Tierlos had no pupils and was still crazily howling, babbling the terrible past in a jumble: ¡°But the really interesting part is still to come¡­ We all died, then came back to life, and then the second catastrophe happened! Those crystals, the crystals that fulfill dreams, suddenly envelop you. A living person turns into a stone sculpture, then the house collapses with a bang! Crash! That person shatters on the ground with the crystals, beyond any hope of being put back together¡­ impossible to put back together¡­¡± ¡°Stop talking.¡± Gongsun Ce pressed hard against his chest and roared, almost losing control, ¡°Stop talking!!¡± Tierlos¡¯s lips quivered, his voice shrill as a needle: ¡°Are you scared now?! But I got used to it! I dream about that day every night! What does another catastrophe matter, I already have nothing left to lose, I¡¯m not afraid of death! I just want to get back what I¡¯ve lost!!¡± Snap! Suddenly, Tierlos¡¯s body moved, and Gongsun Ce quickly sealed the window with telekinesis. But the orb didn¡¯t try to escape; instead, it smashed toward the short arrow in Alice¡¯s hand. ¡°¨C¨C!¡± Gongsun Ce was too out of it, he genuinely didn¡¯t react in time. So the demon-slaying arrow completely penetrated the core of the demon body, and after a sound as crisp as porcelain breaking, the red orb burst open, exploding into bloody pieces on the ground. The dragon worshipper had committed suicide. This madman would rather die than give up a single piece of information. Because that would hinder his dream, impractical, like a delusional dream¡­ ¡°Cack¨C¨Chahaha! I¡¯ll wait for you in the star-studded hell¡­ waiting for you and this damned city to perish together¡­¡± The distorted lips uttered the final words and then lost all strength, reverting back to a lump of mangled flesh. ¡°¡­¡± Alice let out a long sigh, picked up her short arrow from the mess, and began wiping it with a cloth. She helped the extremely sick-looking Gongsun Ce out of the cockpit and said softly, ¡°Let¡¯s rest for a bit.¡± Gongsun Ce didn¡¯t respond; he propped himself up against a container, standing with his back to the Hunter. Alice thought he might vomit, or at least dry heave, but the gray-haired young man simply stood alone, as if chastising himself, showing a pitiable determination in his strength. This sight made Alice feel unsettled; what¡¯s the point? It¡¯s their own problem how sad the dragon crazy gets; it has nothing to do with you. Why put on such a face? As if it¡¯s all your fault¡­ It was like a stubborn and petulant child¡ªirritating to look at. ¡°¡­ Actually, a madman always has a reason for going mad.¡± Alice averted her gaze and started making conversation for no reason, ¡°Tierlos used to be nothing but a thug, he turned out this way after personally experiencing the collapse of the Country¡­ Don¡¯t take a madman¡¯s words to heart! Look, he even thought summoning the giant dragon will grant wishes, how reliable do you think such a person¡¯s words are. With such a wicked sense of humor, he probably just said those things to annoy you before dying.¡± ¡°¡­ Thank you, Miss Alice.¡± Gongsun Ce paused, then turned around. Smiling, he said, ¡°Sorry about just then, I felt a bit sick, but I¡¯m much better now!¡± The Superpower User had once again returned to his previous demeanor, calm and nonchalant. But Alice knew he was lying, for human emotions cannot change so quickly, and pain cannot disappear in such a short time. He was just acting, putting on a mask to deceive himself! But what¡¯s the use of being so convincing, does a well-spoken lie make the feelings in one¡¯s heart disappear? Alice felt a surge of irritation, but she had always been reluctant to meddle in others¡¯ affairs or to stir up trouble. So she suppressed her thoughts, patted her companion¡¯s shoulder, and took the lead. ¡°Don¡¯t torment yourself with the sadness of others! The most important thing is your own happiness, it¡¯s most important to be happy while you live.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± ¡°Now that our only clue is gone, we might as well rest. Let¡¯s see if we can find a shop you like nearby, I¡¯ll splurge and take you out to dinner.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Gongsun Ce took out his phone, half a step behind her, tapping the screen while following the Hunter¡¯s steps. They walked out of the dock area and stopped at a traffic light. Hiss~! Four bio-horse-drawn antique carriages raced by, bringing a breeze mixed with the scent of sweat. The green light signaling ¡®go¡¯ shone, and pedestrians began to move, but Alice stood still. The Hunter hesitated for a moment then ventured, ¡°Back then, you¡­¡± Gongsun Ce kept his gaze straight ahead, saying with a normal tone, ¡°I was also in Supibia three years ago.¡± ¡°¡­ Sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Alice stepped onto the crosswalk. She now fully understood why Gongsun Ce was so distressed and why the Superpower User was so eager to join her cause. This world is always like this; cruel experiences make people abnormal. Tierlos was so, and so was Gongsun Ce. Chapter 21 - 21 11 A Chance Encounter at the Ramen Shop ?21: Chapter 11: A Chance Encounter at the Ramen Shop 21: Chapter 11: A Chance Encounter at the Ramen Shop Under the guidance of Gongsun Ce, the two arrived at the shopping street of Fixed Wing District. After leaving the bustling main road, the buildings on both sides of the street gradually changed from tall office towers to low, flat houses. Unique signs hung around the shops, and occasionally, young superpower users who had just gotten out of school hopped off their vehicles and ran into their favorite stores. It had only been ten years since superpower users appeared; even the most veteran users in the city were only college-age, making the residents of the sky city predominantly young people. Those with the most free time still lived their lives in haste, making the city operate at their unique fast pace. As Gongsun Ce walked along the streets he was familiar with, his anxious heart gradually settled. He quickly adjusted his mindset and began to observe his companion out of the corner of his eye. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Hunter Alice curiously looked around, acting like a tourist who had just arrived. Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°There are tourist manuals for sale at the convenience store, five Imperial Coins each.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, thanks for the recommendation¡ªwait, I¡¯m here on a mission, not for tourism!¡± And you still remembered you were here to catch someone. Nowadays, everyone uses mobile phones, so who still runs around with a paper manual? Impermanence Law Enforcers are really old-fashioned. ¡°So, Miss Alice, do you have any plans for dinner?¡± Alice¡¯s voice sounded particularly dejected. ¡°I don¡¯t know, all the leads are completely gone. Now the only hope is that Capro will find out something, but the likelihood that a severely altered evil spellcaster will remember important information¡­ I think it¡¯s about as likely as a divine sword falling from the sky and choosing me as its master.¡± ¡°Ahahaha.¡± Gongsun Ce chuckled dryly, rarely choosing not to continue the conversation. ¡°What¡¯s with that weird laugh of yours?¡± Alice asked suspiciously. ¡°Nothing, I just think your example was quite brilliant. Since we have no leads, why don¡¯t we ask Mr. White?¡± Being an official expert also pursuing followers of the giant dragon, undoubtedly, agent White might have some information to share. Unfortunately, just looking at Alice¡¯s worried expression, Gongsun Ce knew his suggestion was futile. ¡°It¡¯s no use going to White, I¡¯ll explain the situation to you later¡­ Ah! After dinner, let¡¯s systematically check the areas we previously suspected and try our luck¡­¡± Indeed, that agent wasn¡¯t someone Alice could trust. However, Gongsun Ce wasn¡¯t disheartened because this allowed him to slide in his own suggestions. Gongsun Ce fished out his phone and waved it: ¡°Since you don¡¯t have any leads for now, why not try my contact?¡± Alice widened her eyes: ¡°You have an informant? You¡¯re not an agent from Yiji Hall¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. I just want to find an informant.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that even more suspicious!¡± ¡°Relax, he¡¯s neither an official worker nor an Impermanence Law Enforcer like you, just a college student about to graduate.¡± That wasn¡¯t a lie. With no official background, not a member of the Impermanence society, just a student like himself with extensive information at his disposal, he could only be called a civilian informant. As soon as he met Alice and learned about the situation, Gongsun Ce had messaged this informant. One of the reasons the informant agreed to meet later, after dinner, was the reply he had sent a few minutes ago. [To Gongsun Ce] [Understood, no rush. Two others I¡¯m following up on, Ah Ce you had two fights this afternoon, grab dinner first then bring that Hunter to see me, be here by 7.] The informant said to arrive before 7 pm, meaning there was no rush to get there immediately. Therefore, Gongsun Ce decided to give himself some time to rest, and to let the Hunter rest for a bit as well. ¡°How does that sound, Miss Alice?¡± Alice hesitated all over her face, ¡°I have a need for confidentiality on my side¡­¡± ¡°Missing out on a big fish because of confidentiality would be a loss.¡± Gongsun Ce explained persuasively, ¡°What¡¯s most important right now, confidentiality or thinking about what you are striving for?¡± Without thinking, Alice blurted out, ¡°I¡¯m striving for my extra bonus and holidays.¡± How worldly! ¡°Can¡¯t you have a bit of social responsibility, Miss Hunter?!¡± ¡°Enough, I¡¯m a hunter, not a Knight. Do you even know what hunters do? We operate in the gray areas, taking jobs for quick cash. It¡¯s already an overachievement of responsibility that I¡¯ve followed this mission this far.¡± Alice pondered for a moment and finally said ambivalently, ¡°How about this, I won¡¯t divulge any information related to the Impermanence Skill, just search for accomplices of these three people. Can this meet your needs?¡± Having no basic description of the situation and only having bits and pieces of information to find an unknown number of infiltrators among five million people would typically have caused any regular informant to turn hostile. Fortunately, the person they were asking this time was a man with a very good temper. Gongsun Ce composed a text message and sent it off, saying, ¡°Alright, alright¡­ let¡¯s wait a bit. I guess we¡¯ll get a reply by the time we finish dinner.¡± Alice visibly relaxed, proving hunters weren¡¯t as irresponsible as she portrayed. ¡°Phew! That¡¯s great, what would you like for dinner?¡± Gongsun Ce mischievously said, ¡°The most expensive one.¡± Miss Alice¡¯s change of expression was so astonishing that Gongsun Ce was amazed. She clutched her hands tightly, making a teary-eyed expression, ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, I really can¡¯t afford those fancy restaurants in the city of Sky¡­ the kind that are hidden in secretive alleys and change their menu daily, which you need an invitation from a regular to enter¡­ I¡¯ve never been to one¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How could she imagine it so vividly without ever going there? You actually want to try it, don¡¯t you! ¡°Just kidding, I had a cheap meal deal at a fast food chain for lunch today.¡± Miss Alice boldly puffed up her chest, ¡°Say what you want, it¡¯s my treat!¡± Where did those tears go? You wouldn¡¯t happen to be someone who couldn¡¯t find a job after graduating from the Royal Art College and temporarily turned to being a hunter, would you? As Gongsun Ce mentally crafted a touching, struggle-filled college history for his companion, he led her around a corner, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like having meat tonight. There¡¯s a decent noodle shop nearby. Can you do noodles?¡± The smile on the hunter¡¯s face indicated that it was not a problem. ¡¤ Thirty seconds later, Gongsun Ce led Alice into the noodle shop ¡°Wholeheartedly¡±. The small noodle shop wasn¡¯t spacious. Pushing open the deliberately weathered wooden door, they were greeted by an open kitchen and a hard-working noodle chef. A wooden U-shaped bar surrounded the kitchen, with stools neatly lined in front, slightly crowded. An old TV in the corner of the noodle shop was broadcasting a fighting program from Zero Island, where a host, dressed like he belonged to the mafia, was shouting excitedly, ¡°A real surprise not to be missed! A veteran pretending to be a new challenger entered the ring¡­¡± ¡°Welcome!¡± The owner¡¯s loud greeting overpowered the TV¡¯s noise. Gongsun Ce sat down at the bar and passed the menu to Alice, scanning the restaurant¡¯s surroundings. Today there were few customers besides them and Alice, except for the girl at the next table. She had long black hair, dressed in a green top and yellow skirt, and wore a white headband, she looked somewhat familiar¡­ ¡°Quack!¡± Gongsun Ce made a sound like a duck, which drew the female hunter¡¯s attention. The girl next door just happened to lift her head and met eyes with a stiff-faced Gongsun Ce. The girl had just finished a large steaming bowl of noodles, with a few beads of sweat dripping from her forehead. It was hard for others to gauge her opinion of the meal, as her face showed no emotion, resembling a delicate doll who had just completed a feeding task. The posture was almost exactly the same as when she was eating at the fast-food restaurant. Click! The girl put down her chopsticks, took out her mobile phone, and snapped a photo of the two beside her. ¡°I¡¯m going to upload it on the school¡¯s forum,¡± Miss Qin Qianbai declared. In a panic, Gongsun Ce yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t do that!¡± Chapter 22 - 22 12 Behind the Mission ?22: Chapter 12: Behind the Mission 22: Chapter 12: Behind the Mission ¡°Look, look, this is the face of anticipation. Posting this photo on the forum will definitely get a lot of comments.¡± ¡°So, don¡¯t do it!¡± Gongsun Ce quickly reached out, but the girl swiftly retracted her phone, her movements cautious like a hamster hiding grains. There was no time to explain the situation to Alice beside him. Now, here, if he didn¡¯t think of something fast, Gongsun Ce¡¯s good reputation would be ruined! Gongsun Ce took a deep breath, calmed himself, and said with all his might in a composed demeanor, ¡°Miss, calm down. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve misunderstood¡­¡± ¡°No need to explain, Ah Ce, even I didn¡¯t expect you to be hiding such a side. This is no longer a topic of discussion among friends, but a more serious and meaningful social issue. I think it¡¯s only sensible to let everyone who loves to flaunt their literary skills on the forum discuss it.¡± ¡°What kind of misunderstanding must you have to say such a thing!¡± Qin Qianbai wiped the sweat from his face with a napkin. ¡°Do you want me, feeling complex emotions, to explain?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so complex about this?! Did I do something terribly embarrassing?!¡± Alice decided not to participate in the conversation between the two, and meanwhile, she was already ordering from the boss with a mischievous smile. Qin Qianbai, hand on chin as if after a heavy contemplation and with a blank expression, began, ¡°Well, Ah Ce, listen. The student who was supposed to attend classes this afternoon skipped them to have fast food with us, and then went home as if nothing had happened. I thought it was because he was unwell, but then I saw him dining with a suspicious-looking elder socialite in a ramen shop a few districts away from his home.¡± Alice screamed untimely, ¡°Wait, who is the suspicious-looking elder socialite?¡± Miss Qin punched her hand. ¡°He, usually a good student, would skip school for this; it really makes me feel uneasy. Don¡¯t worry, though I won¡¯t keep your secret, I also won¡¯t distance myself from you, whether you go to a suspicious hotel, a strange alley, or into a warehouse that resembles an illegal construction, I won¡¯t interfere.¡± No way. Even though he wanted to say something like before, now he had no energy left. ¡°Hey, do I look like a suspicious person?!¡± Alice yelled urgently, and the girl sitting a seat away nodded continuously, ¡°Yes.¡± Thump! Gongsun Ce slumped onto the bar counter, the dull sound interrupting the idiots¡¯ conversation. He slowly raised his right arm like a zombie, pointing at the girl on the right. ¡°Miss, you¡­¡± The miss tilted her head, ¡°Me?¡± Gongsun Ce suddenly raised his head, ¡°You should read fewer adult magazines! I, being a man, could never encounter such things; don¡¯t bring the ridiculous plots from those magazines into real life!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in that stuff.¡± Qin Qianbai crossed his arms into an ¡°X¡±. ¡°Stop lying, then from where did you hear about these?¡± ¡°Kardesia mentioned them when chatting with me.¡± ¡°That damnable hatted woman!¡± Are there really college students nowadays who would discuss pornography with female classmates? The more he thought about it, the more he believed that the blonde-haired, hatted woman was capable of such things, what a world! Poor Gongsun Ce resolved that once this matter was settled, he¡¯d go find Mr. Shiyu to complain. Qin Qianbai held up his bowl, gulping down the noodle soup, showing no intention of self-reflection. ¡°Anyway, I was merely assisting this stranger I just met this afternoon out of basic responsibility. Simply put, it¡¯s the action of a helpful good young man. Do you understand now?¡± Qin Qianbai put down his bowl, carefully wiped his mouth, and said, ¡°Then I won¡¯t post it on the forum.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound like you are making a great concession out of something so obvious.¡± ¡°It sounds just as strange. Ah Ce, what you want to do is your freedom, but¡­¡± Qin Qianbai looked into his eyes. ¡°Before you help others, maybe you should sort out your own issues first?¡± After leaving these words, Miss Qin said goodbye and left the noodle shop. ¡¤ The skilled chef did not let the patrons wait too long; Gongsun Ce¡¯s dinner was served in less than five minutes. In the large black bowl, fried garlic was placed at the bottom, followed by a small spoonful of special soy sauce, then a big ladle of broth was poured down, activating the fragrance of garlic and oil in the steam. The prepared ramen was quickly added, rapidly stirred in the soup, colored with garnishes of greens, nori, and soft-boiled egg, with a large piece of oil tofu topping it¡ªhaving just fought such a battle, Gongsun Ce didn¡¯t feel like eating meat. He took the large bowl, took a bite of noodles, and then a bite of tofu. The oil and broth¡¯s aroma enveloped the noodles, and the soup soaked into the tofu exploded in his mouth, incredibly satisfying. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This kind of high-calorie food, heavy on oil and salt, was always popular in the city: using superpower drained physical strength, hence superpower users always had a big appetite. ¡°Whew¡­¡± Gongsun Ce sighed contentedly, ready to quickly finish his dinner when he felt a subtle jolt on his arm. Alice poked him with her elbow, her face full of a gossipy smile, ¡°Girlfriend~?¡± ¡°If I had a girlfriend, why would I be eating ramen here with you.¡± Chapter 23 - 23 12 Behind the Task_2 ?23: Chapter 12 Behind the Task_2 23: Chapter 12 Behind the Task_2 ¡°What, what?! You make it sound like going out with me is a losing deal! After all, based purely on looks and figure, I¡¯m still a top-notch beauty!¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Gongsun Ce scoffed disdainfully, assessing his companion from the perspective of a healthy male rather than a superpower user. Her figure was graceful, with a slender waist and long legs, her prominent chest slightly constrained by her tight hunting outfit, which paradoxically highlighted the beauty of a woman more than more revealing clothes would; her face was beautiful, yet bore no heavy traces of makeup, most likely because any makeup would fade during their travels, with only her eyebrows lightly drawn. It was then that Gongsun Ce realized his companion was indeed a dazzling woman, her beauty not only in her appearance and physique but also in her straightforward demeanor. Alice had just fought at the docks, and although she had cleaned up, it was inevitable that dust still clung to her. Yet, the Hunter didn¡¯t mind at all and sat openly in the shop, sipping noodle soup, her every move possessing an ease not found in campus girls. Her blue hair was so long it almost fell into the bowl, so Alice casually tossed her hair back, inadvertently revealing a stretch of concealed skin at the back of her head. Her neck was slightly reddened from exercise, still bearing beads of unevaporated sweat. ¡°¡­¡± Gongsun Ce turned his gaze away, drawing a curious look from his companion, ¡°?You, the sarcasm expert, aren¡¯t arguing with me?¡± ¡°¡­Miss Alice is indeed a top-notch beauty.¡± ¡°Humph, it seems you¡¯ve finally realized the charm of big sis¡ªwait, what do you mean by deliberately leaving out ¡®young¡¯ from ¡®beautiful young lady¡¯?!¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for that slight pity, you could truly be that kind of striking beauty,¡± Gongsun Ce said earnestly. ¡°Annoying, if I could really do it, would I still be eating ramen with you right now!¡± It seems you¡¯ve realized it too¡­ Alice huffed as she ate her noodles. She ordered a hot, spicy noodle soup with a red broth, which was quite uncommon among people from the Country who weren¡¯t good at handling spicy food. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So, Miss Alice¡­¡± Gongsun Ce had finished most of his bowl of noodles and was about to discuss something serious. He was pondering how to use his abilities to create a sound barrier but gave up halfway through the thought. Alice was dabbing her noodle soup with chopsticks on a napkin, drawing a strange symbol that looked like an inverted hook with a slanting line through the middle. Although the sound he heard hadn¡¯t changed, Gongsun Ce felt that the surroundings became ¡°quiet.¡± ¡°This is a basic rune of the Spiritual Image, using this will turn our conversation into noise, leaving no impression in ordinary people¡¯s memory. This won¡¯t work on Impermanence Law Enforcers or Mind System superpower users, but this ramen shop isn¡¯t exactly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, right?¡± Spiritual Image¡­ known for controlling the mind, creating illusions. This is so convenient. Even this little trick amounts to a separate ¡°superpower¡±; the experts truly are experts. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the owner is a normal person. Now I can ask freely then, you know what I want to ask.¡± Alice sloppily took a few bites of her noodles, speaking unclearly, ¡°That, well, the agent from the United States.¡± ¡°Exactly, Mr. White¡¯s behavior was strange. You two seemed to be competing, yet chose to help each other when attacked. Now that information is needed, you don¡¯t plan to ask him¡ªI must say, what exactly are you official experts up to?¡± Alice said gloomily, ¡°Haven¡¯t you already figured it out? The experts aren¡¯t all in agreement¡­ The influence of the overall situation doesn¡¯t just apply to the visible society; the inner world is the same. The agent considers the interests of the United States, the passerby is loyal to the Empire, and I, as a Hunter, naturally work for the Country.¡± Hearing this, Gongsun Ce understood the experts¡¯ difficulty. What troubled them was the so-called issue of the ¡°overall situation.¡± In today¡¯s world, a bipolar structure was basically presented. Dominating the South Continent and much of the Mimang Sea with its vast territory and ancient history, the ¡°Yong Guang Empire¡±; and grounded in the North Continent, spreading like an eagle¡¯s wings across a wide expanse of land, the ¡°Ustus Federation,¡± were the two most formidable powers in the world. Beneath these powers, there was the island nation in the southwest of the North Continent and the western part of the Mimang Sea, the ¡°King Morton.¡± Further down the line was Zero Island, a military-commercial joint government that was inferior in national power to the other three, yet still held a place on the international stage. These four countries controlled more than 90% of the world¡¯s land. Beyond their sphere of influence, only the uninhabitable polar regions and scattered islands in the Mimang Sea remained. There were also some small countries located on those lands, but their influence on the overall situation was negligible. ¡°What do the major powers want to fight over? Do they view the dragon worshippers as a resource?¡± Gongsun Ce asked, frowning. ¡°It¡¯s a bit different from what you imagine. Let¡¯s say¡­ when you think of the Empire, the Federation, and the Kingdom, what comes to mind?¡± ¡°The Vaulted Capital,¡± Gongsun Ce answered without hesitation. The establishment of the Vaulted Capital was an unprecedented international grand scheme. The Yong Guang Empire conceded the body of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky, the Ustus Federation provided several core technologies needed for the construction of the Floating City, and King Morton contributed suppressant technology, allowing ordinary people to enter the gathering place of the superpowered without worrying about being disrupted by powers. The three countries led the initiative, with the international community working together cooperatively, and the world¡¯s first Big Prison was finally built. The three countries that contributed the most in the initial phase naturally possessed the greatest authority over this city. The Governor of the Vaulted City was replaced every three years, appointed alternately by commissioners from the Three Great Countries. ¡°You should know that the Kingdom¡¯s power in the surface world is far inferior to Yong Guang and Ustus. The real reason that allows the Kingdom to control the Vaulted Capital lies in the substantial power we possess in the inner world,¡± Alice said irritably, stirring her soup, ¡°The Kingdom¡¯s Impermanence Law Enforcer contributed many necessary technologies¡­ so we have a ¡®right¡¯ in this matter.¡± ¡°The Kingdom¡¯s Impermanence Law Enforcer is very strong,¡± Gongsun Ce agreed. ¡°Was very strong,¡± Alice corrected. ¡°Do you know how powerful we used to be? Our official roster had no less than four Creator Realm Mages, such magnificent beings that could influence the whole world alone! But everything changed after the Kingdom crumbled¡­¡± Alice¡¯s voice sounded particularly bitter: ¡°The great Her Majesty the Queen passed away, the shining head of the Knight Order fell, the Invincible Dawn Knight weakened after the war, and the wise chief Mage has been comatose ever since. We lost so many crucial forces, and in that disaster, countless Exhibitors died, Divine Communication is uncountable¡­¡± The weakening of the Dawn Knights made Gongsun Ce¡¯s mood sink. He whispered, ¡°¡­this is the Dragon Disaster.¡± The Colored Glaze Disaster, the Dragon Disaster. Twin calamities that struck in a single day and dealt an unprecedented blow to a once-powerful country. Many people he knew had died that day, and the grand cities of his memory had long since become ruins. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the terrifying Dragon Disaster!¡± Alice chuckled helplessly, ¡°And now, the dragon crazies we are tracking may possess the ability to summon giant dragons. Do you understand now what the experts are fighting over?¡± Gongsun Ce completely understood this delicate situation. The phenomenon of giant dragons held the power to destroy nations, a deterrent more terrifying than all modern weaponry combined. No power would not want this force under its control. The experts had a heavy responsibility; they could not allow the dragon worshippers to succeed, yet also could absolutely not let another country obtain this potential weapon of annihilation. ¡°Have they gone mad?¡± Gongsun Ce felt exceedingly anxious, ¡°Those are dragons!¡± ¡°Ten years ago, we were fighting a war without gun smoke; you can¡¯t expect everyone to be clear-headed.¡± Alice acted more rational than he, the Hunter bowed his head to finish the last bite of ramen, gulped down the soup, and set down his chopsticks. She turned her head, watching a competition broadcast on TV. The veteran on the field was continuously pressed by a newcomer, retreating step by step. ¡°Alright, Gongsun Ce,¡± Alice said softly, ¡°now that you know all this, it¡¯s also time for you to back out.¡± Chapter 24 - 24 13 Shiyus Suspicions ?24: Chapter 13 Shiyu¡¯s Suspicions 24: Chapter 13 Shiyu¡¯s Suspicions ¡°That retreat came quite unexpectedly,¡± Gongsun Ce shrugged his shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s more suitable for before the final battle, not right after we¡¯ve just won against a minor boss.¡± ¡°You still have the mood to joke¡­ You understand what I mean, right?¡± Alice tapped her fingernails on the table, her face full of worry. ¡°This isn¡¯t like what you imagine; it¡¯s not over just by catching a few lunatics. You might get caught up in the struggles among experts from various countries, and even run into those deadly freaks¡­¡± The Hunter hesitated for a moment, seemingly reluctant to say what was on his mind, yet he twisted his mouth into an almost spiteful attitude and said, ¡°Better sober up, young man. So you have some unique abilities and think you¡¯re something special? You escaped that kind of hell three years ago, but going back to your city is not a good idea. It¡¯s the experts¡¯ job to protect the world and engage in tricky battles, while the best thing for an ordinary person like you is to go back and enjoy everyday life with your little girlfriend.¡± Alice herself didn¡¯t notice that her tone had unconsciously softened a bit. ¡°¡­It¡¯s rare to find someone to sit with me and watch the scenery with pigeons. I don¡¯t want to see you die horribly in chaos.¡± Gongsun Ce remembered the hesitant look on her face when she was on the back of a pigeon, and he suddenly understood. Actually, Alice had regretted wanting to persuade him to leave at that moment, right? It¡¯s just that she had agreed to accompany him and it wasn¡¯t the right time to advise retreat. She must have thought he would back down in front of Tierlos¡¯s abilities, but she didn¡¯t expect his strength to be a bit stronger than imagined, so much so that he easily defeated the dissociated demon body, leaving her no choice but to speak up directly, albeit vague and unclear. Suddenly, Gongsun Ce asked, ¡°Miss Alice, why did you choose to become a Hunter?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Alice looked at him in surprise, ¡°For me¡­ because being a Hunter pays well and is free.¡± ¡°Free?¡± ¡°Our line of work is very relaxed, like mercenaries in a gray area. There¡¯s no boss above us issuing compulsory assignments, nor do we have to endure the scowls of the big shots. If I¡¯m in a good mood, I¡¯ll take on a couple of jobs and then loaf about for a few months; if I¡¯m not, I won¡¯t take any jobs and just go home and drink cold water with the northwest wind blowing.¡± Alice laughed, ¡°After the collapse of the country, the Impermanence Law enforcers are short-staffed, and we small fries are just there to make up the numbers and amplify the presence of the Knight overlords, making up what¡¯s called the Wild Hunt. But the way we work inside is still the same old way¡­ It¡¯s just running from the gray area to an official designation, and how you live still depends on yourself.¡± Gongsun Ce imagined the Hunters¡¯ daily lives, sleeping as many days as they wanted in a week, and when they needed money, they¡¯d take on a job, catch a criminal, then return home with a bag full of gold coins to eat and drink lavishly. The temptation of freely arranging their time suddenly made the job seem very appealing, and he was quite tempted. ¡°Listening to you, I¡¯m starting to want to be a Hunter.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t. You¡¯ll know how tough it is when you are the one drinking the northwest wind. And once you take on a rotten job, you¡¯re really out of luck.¡± Alice rolled her eyes, ¡°Like Big Sister here, I¡¯m just incredibly unlucky this time. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I thought capturing a few dragon-crazed fools would be easy, but once I got into a fight, I realized they all had abilities above Divine Communication. Once I captured one and interrogated them, they said they planned to summon a giant dragon, and I knew then that I couldn¡¯t just walk away from this¡­¡± Gongsun Ce abruptly cut her off, ¡°Miss Alice, then why are you still following this job? What makes you step into this murky water with them?¡± Alice didn¡¯t immediately reply, as if she didn¡¯t expect him to ask that. She tapped her foot on the floor, her voice still lively, but with a hint of something in her words that Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t quite understand, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s for the big bounty when completing a task¡­ Besides, I¡¯m an expert after all, it wouldn¡¯t be right to retreat knowing the difficulties.¡± Hearing this, Gongsun Ce smiled and said, ¡°Likewise, I have my own reasons I can¡¯t give up. Summoning a giant dragon is too big of a deal. I¡¯d rather trust you and myself than other experts whom I have never met.¡± Without waiting for Alice to respond, he swiftly changed the subject, ¡°Let¡¯s drop the topic of persuading me to retreat. You just mentioned those ¡®freaks¡¯¡­ what were you referring to?¡± Alice¡¯s expression was twisted like that of a fisherman who learned a storm was coming but was already at sea. ¡°You have met Impermanence Law Enforcers like the Dragon Madman and experts affiliated with the authorities like me¡­ but there are also free agents in this world who don¡¯t work for anyone! It¡¯s very possible these freelancers have also gotten wind of the situation in the City of the Skies, and just thinking about them coming gives me a headache to the point of death¡­¡± Gongsun Ce frowned and asked, ¡°How strong are these free agents? Compared to Tierlos¡­¡± Alice¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Compared with them, Tierlos is at best a mere amoeba.¡± The gap in strength was of microscopic proportions! ¡°That exaggerated?¡± Miss Hunter lined up her fingers rigidly and spoke with a sense of resignation, ¡°Do you know who is coming? Sky Extreme, Ming Guest, Red Mage, Hidden Law Master, Shiyu¡­ At bare minimum they are Manifestation Mages, and several are even Creator Realm Mages! Each one of them is a renowned disaster, with their files marked with ¡®information unknown¡¯ and ¡®extremely dangerous¡¯. You can¡¯t imagine how outrageous that list is, I deeply suspect that the intelligence agencies haven¡¯t found a shred of evidence and just sent me the list of dangerous individuals they thought of first!¡± The word ¡°Shiyu¡± seemed a bit like a personal name amidst a string of obvious nicknames¡­ Gongsun Ce tentatively asked, ¡°Who is the worst among them?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s Sky Extreme, the Sky Extreme from the Empire.¡± Alice cursed in a low whisper, ¡°Sky Extreme has no objectives, his strength is astonishing, yet he only seeks battle. Everyone knows of the lawless lunatic in the Yong Guang Empire. He cares not for wealth, fame, worldly status, nor the safety of others or social peace, seeking only a satisfying fight. What do you think such a person would do after getting a method to summon a giant dragon?¡± ¡°It sounds like a Knight who would face an Evil Dragon in a one-on-one duel.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid of exactly that. No matter who wins or loses, we and this city are certainly doomed.¡± Alice instinctively tightened her arms, ¡°Another person I definitely do not want to encounter is Shiyu from Zero Island.¡± The name sounded all too familiar, but Miss Alice had no reason to know his old friend. So, the one she was talking about was most likely another¡­ Another name he had heard today. Gongsun Ce pulled up the day¡¯s news brief on his phone, and within seconds, he found the latest headline. Last year at the end of the year, a massacre occurred in the eastern part of Zero Island, said to be a mass death tragedy on a scale unseen for years. ¡°Is it this person?¡± Gongsun Ce pointed to the photo on the phone screen. The name of the suspect was annotated underneath: Shiyu Ling. The photo showed a slender black-haired woman, her black eyes indifferently staring ahead, looking like a frail female. Gongsun Ce could imagine her flipping through books in a library, but it was difficult for him to associate such a woman with murder. Alice said with disdain, ¡°They call it a tragedy, but in reality, it was a disgraceful accident. The Shiyu Research Institute got wiped out by their experimental subjects, and although it¡¯s not quite appropriate for me to say, their deaths were a good thing for the public.¡± ¡°Your tone sounds like you¡¯re talking about some crazy scientific institution.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what it is. The Shiyu Research Institute is a purely ¡®practical¡¯ oriented institution, attempting to cultivate Impermanence Law Enforcers with a directed approach. Judging from their results over the years, their research outcomes could only be said to be ¡®too practical¡¯ ¡ª the Impermanence Law Enforcers who come out of that place are either incomprehensible madmen or maniacs who wouldn¡¯t find it strange to laugh while killing.¡± When Alice said the word ¡°practical,¡± she emphasized it in a mocking tone. ¡°Now they¡¯ve gone and screwed themselves over first, and we poor souls have to help with the aftermath. The intelligence division¡¯s divination shows that Shiyu Ling is very likely on the way to Cangqiong City. No one knows what the Shiyus will do; it would be best not to run into them.¡± ¡°Shiyus?¡± ¡°Shiyu is a term for a group of people?¡± ¡°All the Impermanence Law Enforcers trained by that research institute are surnamed Shiyu.¡± Alice waved her hand dismissively, ¡°Staying away from anyone with the surname Shiyu is just common sense in our line of work.¡± ¡°People who happen to be surnamed Shiyu would be quite unlucky, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± Gongsun Ce retorted. Miss Alice stretched out her hand and prodded his forehead. ¡°You¡¯ve already entered the inner world and you still think there¡¯s room for such coincidences around you? Being that unguarded can get you killed in the most horrible ways!¡± His statement was indeed irrefutable. Although it made sense, Gongsun Ce still felt troubled in his heart, especially since he happened to have a good friend surnamed Shiyu. The information he¡¯d been given conflicted with what he knew of his everyday life, and the dissonance happening right beside him made the feeling of being out of place utterly severe. For a moment, he didn¡¯t even know what to believe. ¡°Sky Extreme and Shiyu¡­¡± As if to etch it deeper into his memory, Gongsun Ce quietly repeated the names of these two individuals. The notification sound from his social media app chimed in at that moment, drawing a conclusion to their conversation. ¡°Miss Alice, time to head out. The information broker says it¡¯s nearly time; we¡¯ll get the intelligence just right if we go now.¡± ¡°Go there? You still do face-to-face exchanges for information?¡± ¡°People in that line of work always have their quirks.¡± Gongsun Ce smiled, ¡°Thanks for the warning; I¡¯ll be extra careful in my actions from now on.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Alice, sensing his resolve, waved her hand dismissively, ¡°Well then, I¡¯m going to make full use of you, no backing out, okay?¡± ¡°How could I?¡± Alice tore up the napkin with symbols on it, and the oddly quiet feeling disappeared. She counted out the exact amount of cash from her purse and signaled to the cashier to pay the bill. Gongsun Ce stepped out of the shop first. The evening commercial street was bustling with people; teenagers who had just finished school were running and playing in the streets, the scent of food and the smell of oil mingled with the earthly smell of daily life, and in the fast-paced urban scene, there wasn¡¯t a hint of anything abnormal. He couldn¡¯t help but think, if people knew about the imminent giant dragon phenomenon, if they knew about the city¡¯s potential doomed future, even if it was just a possibility¡­ Would the peace and order be shattered? Would chaos descend upon the city once again? Upon hearing this news, there would certainly be those who would want to evacuate, but where could superpower users run to¡­ Gongsun Ce could neither know nor wanted to continue imagining. Just then¡ª (Gongsun, to your right.) Without warning, a clear voice echoed in his heart, its gentle tone all too familiar to him. Gongsun Ce did as instructed and looked to the right. At the mouth of a side alley on the street, amidst passing pedestrians, stood a young man in a suit, standing straight. The man raised his right hand, placing his index finger against his lips in a silencing gesture. (Shh.) Afterward, Shiyu Lianyi took a step back. His black suit blended into the diverse attire of the people around him, disappearing into the crowded throng. ¡°¡­¡± Gongsun Ce was silent for a long time, until Alice came out of the store just then: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing, just saw a classmate.¡± This wasn¡¯t a lie. Perhaps because he hadn¡¯t lied, this time Alice¡¯s intuition wasn¡¯t triggered. ¡¤ Gongsun Ce and Alice quickly left the commercial street, turning into two insignificant points among the crowd. Meanwhile, as Shiyu Lianyi silently retreated, another person was hiding in the shadows. Gongsun Ce always maintained a telekinetic net for detection around him, yet he failed to notice this observer. She was all too familiar with the habits of superpower users, enough to easily evade his detection radius. She stood hundreds of meters away on the rooftop of a building, tracking the tiny grey dot in the crowd with her extraordinary eyesight, observing their movements. She picked up her phone and dialed an expert¡¯s number. ¡°Hello, hello, it¡¯s me. Ah Ce is mixing with some weird woman, and I¡¯m worried.¡± The man on the other end of the phone said something to her, and after listening for a while, she nodded and replied. ¡°¡­Understood. I¡¯ll go and see for myself then.¡± She jumped down from the top of the building, landing on the ground as lightly as a feather, and like her friends, she disappeared into the crowd, heading in a direction different from theirs. Chapter 25 - 25 14 Intelligence Trafficker ?25: Chapter 14 Intelligence Trafficker 25: Chapter 14 Intelligence Trafficker The residence of the informant was located in the western part of Fixed Wing District, nestled in a garden-style residential area hidden beneath a steel forest. The middle-aged security guard at the entrance of the community had the air of a retired soldier, the bushes along the pedestrian walkway were neatly trimmed, and a series of exquisitely designed cottages were dispersed amongst private swimming pools, gardens, and garages belonging to the various homes. Every detail of this place exuded an air of luxury that was foreign to Alice, painting her face with shades of envy: ¡°Tsk tsk tsk¡­ this is really nice¡­¡± ¡°Just so you don¡¯t misunderstand, I¡¯ll tell you that the local housing prices are much cheaper compared to the outside world. This place is technically considered remote; the truly affluent areas are in the center and Cangshou.¡± ¡°Am I drooling over housing prices? I¡¯m drooling over these houses!¡± Gongsun Ce scratched his head, ¡°I remember that housing isn¡¯t that scarce in the Country, right? sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many families live in the kind of small buildings you see on TV shows.¡± Alice¡¯s face fell: ¡°You just said it, TV shows. In reality, a solo Hunter like me still ends up renting an apartment.¡± Gongsun Ce felt a bit surprised, ¡°Divine Communication Mages don¡¯t earn much?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a small amount if you just look at the figures! But Heart Phase Weaponry costs money, ordinary equipment costs money, and all the materials and props lost during missions cost money; if you deduct all these bits and pieces, the remaining figure doesn¡¯t look so pretty. In recent years, joining the Wild Hunt allowed me to get reimbursed for major expenses, and the numbers finally started to look a bit more respectable, but owning my own house is still a distant dream.¡± It sounded like a solitary white-collar woman struggling on her own¡­ ¡°Is living in an apartment all the time that bad?¡± Alice replied listlessly, ¡°A person should always pursue the life of their dreams¡­ Aren¡¯t we there yet?¡± ¡°Almost.¡± Alice looked under the weather, and Gongsun Ce could understand her feelings. This Hunter was facing all sorts of difficulties in a strange environment, and all she could do now was seek help from a civilian informant; just feeling a bit impatient was already a sign of strong mental fortitude. Miss Alice, who still had the energy to discuss housing prices in this situation, must be someone with quite a thick skin. Gongsun Ce stopped in front of a cottage with a red roof and said, ¡°Miss Alice, the person we¡¯re visiting is an old friend of mine. He¡¯s a good guy, but he may not give you the information directly; he might ask you a few questions separately. Just call me if you need.¡± ¡°As long as he isn¡¯t one of those psychopaths who linger at home all year, it¡¯s all good¡­¡± ¡°Relax, he¡¯s very cheerful,¡± Gongsun Ce said as he pressed the doorbell by the iron gate. The electronic screen beside the doorbell flashed twice and played an electronic tone, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°What kind of old-fashioned scam is this? I¡¯m going to call the security.¡± ¡°I warn you, the lady beside me is not in a very stable mood right now. If you waste her time with more nonsense, she might just barge in here and I won¡¯t be able to stop her.¡± Playing along with Gongsun Ce, Alice tapped on the short arrows hanging by her waist with her slender fingers, putting on a highly threatening demeanor. The informant said in a melodramatic tone, ¡°Wow, is it that scary? Please come in; let me see what the client looks like.¡± The iron gate opened in response, and the heavy wooden door of the cottage followed suit. Alice walked into the foyer behind the young man, observing the interior of the cottage. Upon entering, there was a shoe cabinet filled with all sorts of strange trinkets, and turning a corner revealed the living room¡¯s bright floor-to-ceiling windows. There was a long sofa, two wooden chairs, a long table in between, and the wall opposite the sofa featured a screen that took up almost half the wall. A room that wasn¡¯t tidy but comfortable ¨C that was Alice¡¯s first impression of the informant¡¯s home. ¡°I haven¡¯t cleaned up today; no need to take your shoes off. Come in and have a seat!¡± The informant was sitting in the middle of the long sofa, holding a can of cola he¡¯d just opened. He had messy black hair, a round face that looked very amiable when smiling, and was wearing an oversized T-shirt he seemed to have bought to hide his figure, but his belly pushing against the clothing made this effort futile. As soon as Gongsun Ce entered, he joked with a smile, ¡°Ah Kai, you¡¯re maintaining your figure very well.¡± The informant¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°Wow, you little rascal, you couldn¡¯t even save me some face with guests present? Call me Mr. Mo!¡± Focusing on titles rather than body shape, could it be he had already given up on the latter¡­ Muttering to herself, Alice saw this scene and strengthened her resolve to maintain her figure, for if she let herself go, there would be no saving her. ¡°What Mr. Mo, you¡¯re a few years older at most. Let me introduce you, this is the client for this time, Miss Alice Adar from the Country.¡± The young Mr. Mo flashed a big smile and waved his chubby hand at Alice, ¡°Miss Adar, it¡¯s a pleasure. You can call me Mr. Mo or just use my name, Yuankai. Here¡¯s my business card¡­¡± His voice was deep and his speech pace was neither fast nor slow, creating a curious contrast with the content that was like that of a salesman. Alice quickly waved her hands, ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m here just for a temporary matter and won¡¯t stay long in this city. Rather than that, have you found the information I wanted?¡± Without any apparent action from Mo Yuankai, the big TV in the living room lit up. What appeared on the screen were not nighttime TV shows, but pictures of five individuals taken from different angles, three of whom were the giant dragon worshipers that Gongsun Ce had taken down this afternoon. ¡°There are five dangerous individuals who infiltrated Sky City today, excluding Capro Boli, Tierlos Kevin, and Dongcheng Zhanger, who you have already dealt with, there are still two whose whereabouts are unknown.¡± Chapter 26 - 26 14 The Intelligence Peddler_2 ?26: Chapter 14 The Intelligence Peddler_2 26: Chapter 14 The Intelligence Peddler_2 Mo Yuankai pointed to the photographs that darkened one by one, leaving only two strangers: a long-haired man with droopy eyes in the bottom right corner and a middle-aged man with short hair in the center. Mo Yuankai crossed his hands, smiling, ¡°Miss Alice, the men you are looking for are these two. My information should be correct, right?¡± Alice was overjoyed, ¡°Please tell me where they are now! No matter the cost, the Country will reimburse it!¡± Using official funds certainly feels different from using one¡¯s own¡­ ¡°Price isn¡¯t important. I invited you here personally because I wanted to see what the client looks like; it helps me decide.¡± Mo Yuankai gestured to his friend, ¡°Ah Ce, my friend just sent a new ink painting to the upstairs study. If you¡¯ve got nothing else to do, please help me check its quality.¡± Gongsun Ce understood and stood up, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help you out. Be careful, Miss Alice is quite sharp; don¡¯t embarrass yourself by lying.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I always keep my word and never lie.¡± Mo Yuankai quietly waited for his friend to leave the first floor. He leaned back on the sofa, waved his hand, and suddenly, the ceiling silently cracked open. Four thick metal walls descended, seamlessly connecting and transforming the living room into an impregnable chamber. ¡°Mr. Mo¡¯s home decor is quite unique,¡± Alice remarked unfazed. ¡°This is a new set of soundproof walls I recently acquired; they work exceptionally well. They¡¯re equipped with a field capable of blocking most eavesdropping and snooping. The college experts claim it can even counter superpower users and Impermanence Law Enforcers, though I take it with a grain of salt, merely for peace of mind.¡± Mo Yuankai spoke with a warmth uncharacteristic of a shrewd businessman, almost craftsman-like. ¡°Miss Aidal, do you know how many people want this information?¡± ¡°I imagine a lot.¡± ¡°An enormous number. You can¡¯t imagine how many powers are inquiring; I haven¡¯t seen such a gathering in a long time. Now, you ask me for information without providing specific details; how am I to proceed?¡± Alice pursed her lips tightly, ¡°Your information will be worthless in half an hour or an hour¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Mo Yuankai waved his hand generously, ¡°You were introduced by Ah Ce; I never intended to take your money. What I want to know is, what is your true purpose?¡± ¡°I am a Hunter¡ª¡± The information dealer spoke slowly but revealed significant information within a few words, ¡°Stop beating around the bush, Miss. You know what I mean. Information about summoning the giant dragon isn¡¯t something that can be traded lightly. Are you planning to capture these people and bring them back to the Country to gain favor with your superiors? Or do you have other plans?¡± ?Alice immediately understood he knew more than she had expected, including the current situation and their goals. ?Where did Gongsun Ce meet such a person? And how did these inner details come to be known? Despite his apparent college-age, not a trace of naivety could be sensed in his words. Alice couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the difficulty of dealing with superpower users; to the ordinary eye, they must seem like oddities. ?Under normal circumstances, she would be delighted to explore and negotiate terms with such a person, but the control was now in his hands: Mo Yuankai could easily trade with someone else, while she needed to make quick decisions as the situation changed every moment. She had to race against time. ?Alice placed the short arrow on the table, making a light sound. Her voice was colder than ever, as if she were an executioner about to perform her duty. ?¡±I did not wish to speak of this in front of Gongsun Ce. I hope to eliminate them all before other experts arrive.¡± ?¡±I detest killing,¡± Mo Yuankai played with his fingers. ?¡±I, too, dislike killing, but I dislike Dragon Disasters even more. If the dragon fanatics¡¯ delusions prove true, whether their secrets are held by the official powers or known to lawless freemen, it will bring only harm to the world.¡± Alice looked directly at the young man, ¡°My only goal is, as one of the first to understand the situation, to nip the possibility of a Dragon Disaster in the bud.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mo Yuankai raised his voice, ¡°You were one of the first to be informed?¡± ¡°Until this morning, I thought it was just an ordinary hunting mission until I caught Dongcheg Zhanger. That Strange Phase Mage, in his delirium, told me the giant dragon was coming soon; he was excited and scared.¡± Alice continued wearily, ¡°I immediately transferred him to the local agency of the Country, hoping they would tell me it was just a delusion of a dragon worshipper. After a while, when I received no explanation, only bad news of his jailbreak and an urgent order to hunt all members¡ªI realized then the issue had escalated.¡± It was the truth; she hadn¡¯t slept for two days and nights. ¡°I am a Hunter, not a Knight, and don¡¯t feel much responsibility for the interests of the Country. I just don¡¯t want to see another Dragon Disaster. Believe it or not.¡± Alice stood from the wooden chair, ¡°Please, give me an answer, Mr. Mo.¡± Finally, Mo Yuankai nodded. ¡°This way¡­ I understand your point. I have no reason not to help you, but this matter is of great importance. I don¡¯t want to see dragons either, Miss Alice. Therefore, I will not only tell you the information, but I will also inform the pedestrians and agents as a safety measure.¡± This assertive tone sounded like he believed his information was more reliable than that of the official agencies. Are the information institutions of the capital just for show? How could the higher-ups be less informed than a student? But Alice had no interest in delving into these details, as she had just heard not a single lie. After verifying the trustworthiness of the words, making a decision became straightforward. She extended her hand to Mo Yuankai, ¡°I can understand; I just need one chance.¡± ¡°Happy to collaborate.¡± The two downstairs shook hands, reaching an agreement. At the same time, in the upstairs study, a scroll fell from the desk. ¡°¡­Ugh!¡± The end of the scroll spread over the floor, showing nothing but pure white emptiness. This scroll, once held in Gongsun Ce¡¯s hand, now rolled on the floor because the young man with gray hair had no strength left to pick it up and slumped against the wall. His hands dangled helplessly at his sides, his golden eyes devoid of spirit, and even his nearly omnipotent telekinesis could not be stirred¡­ As Gongsun Ce¡¯s heart had stopped beating this very moment. Chapter 27 - 27 15 The Continuation of the Dream ?27: Chapter 15 The Continuation of the Dream 27: Chapter 15 The Continuation of the Dream Time had reverted to a few minutes earlier. While Alice was talking with Mo Yuankai, Gongsun Ce was staring blankly at the table in the study on the second floor. Three items lay before him: a piece of paper with hurried, alarmed cursive that read, ¡°Extract with the syringe and then inject into your chest to suppress the dreams.¡± ¡°¡­Where¡¯s my choice? Did you eat it?¡± Gongsun said something unclear, then manipulated the scroll to float up and unfold before him. Mo Yuankai¡¯s mention of the ink painting on the second floor wasn¡¯t just a ruse to deal with the Hunter¡ªit was also the truth for him. The scroll hid a unique ink painting not of mountains, rivers, flowers, or birds, but filled with image after image of swords. There were longswords, daggers, traditional single-handed swords, noble¡¯s rapiers, warriors¡¯ greatswords, and the Knight¡¯s heavy sword he had once seen¡­ The myriad forms of the Ink Sword differed widely in style, chaotically piled upon the paper in a manner that should have made the painting unbearable to look at. However, the artist, with his otherworldly skill and strong personal style, had overcome this inherent challenge. He brought order to chaos, and his talent leapt from the hasty strokes, exuding an arrogance and wildness out of reach for ordinary people. ¡°What a crappy painting.¡± Unfortunately, when the viewer and the artist were at odds, even the best paintings were deemed worthless. Gongsun cursed and pressed the sharp needle against the paper, at which all the swords in the painting simultaneously ¡°moved¡±! Hundreds of Ink Swords in the painting turned their direction and, like charging infantry, thrust towards the needle¡¯s point. The two-dimensional blades on the paper could not harm the three-dimensional syringe, but they collided with the needle point as though they had mass. In this senseless slaughter, the Ink Swords shattered to pieces, becoming droplets that rushed along the hollow needle into the empty syringe. In half a minute, no more ink was seen on the scroll, and the syringe in Gongsun Ce¡¯s hand was filled with ink. Gongsun took several deep breaths in an effort to calm his nerves. He lifted his shirt and plunged the needle into his heart. ¡°Damn Yan Qi. I hope your thing is reliable¡­!¡± Before he could press the plunger, the ink, once swords, surged into his body of its own accord. ¡°!¡± His heart felt as though it had been pierced by a sword, bringing a tearing pain. Gongsun Ce slumped against the wall, just managing to pull out the needle with trembling hands before his heart stopped beating. The next second, Gongsun Ce¡¯s eyes were obscured by a gray haze. He saw fog again, a boundless expanse of cold mist. Under the influence of some power, his memories fled, and his consciousness felt as though it was sinking into the icy sea. He knew he was about to return to the past in his memories, back to that desolate battlefield¡­ Letting the nightmare of Supibia continue. Blood moon, grey fog, ruins, clock tower. The cuckoo. When he came to, Gongsun Ce found himself once more on that familiar battlefield. He watched with an almost wooden detachment what he had witnessed countless times before: the cuckoo circling over and over, the thick fog swirling like a cyclone, and the Netherworld Dragon descending under the blood-red moonlight. But this time, the dream did not end there. Without a sound, Gongsun Ce¡¯s sleeves were emptied. Beneath the power of the Netherworld Dragon, the individual known as Gongsun Ce began to dissolve. His right arm disappeared, quickly followed by his legs. Suddenly losing support, he collapsed to the ground, his head stubbornly lifting. The giant dragon¡¯s lone eye looked down, seemingly wanting to meet his gaze, or perhaps merely surveying the ruins it had wrought. ¡°¡ª¡ª!¡± The Netherworld Dragon raised its head, emitting a lamenting roar sounding like a cry. The noise echoed through the empty city, as if tolling the death knell for this vanquished city. The mist tumultuously billowed and swirled with its movements, like countless souls cheering for the arrival of their king! Gongsun Ce¡¯s body also dissolved in a breath, his head rolling to the ground, while his consciousness and vision flickered for an instant. At this moment, Gongsun Ce¡¯s vision was swamped by a golden light. The warm glow solidified his once-melting body, granting him back the power of thought. He saw a Knight racing in the light. Though she was a frail girl, she had the courage to charge at the giant dragon. She was clad in sturdy, heavy silver armor, her weapon exuded an incomparable presence that even made the Netherworld Dragon shift its gaze! It was a holy yet ominous greatsword. The silver-white blade was inlaid with a dark line; the golden guard¡¯s hilt was wrapped in a blood-red band; on the pommel, three spikes of different lengths protruded, like twisted crosses thrust into the blade. Such contradictory gear created a discomfiting strangeness. It was a dangerous armament only to be wielded in special cases, and now was the time to draw the sword. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Come, Netherworld Dragon!¡± From the dragon¡¯s maw spewed fog that dissolved everything, but the Knight¡¯s light pierced the grey mist. The battlefield bizarrely twisted instantly, at times showing a desolate realm with dead trees, at times reverting to the once glorious and shining white city. This was a struggle between worlds, a battle beyond Gongsun Ce¡¯s comprehension. His memory only held those appearances perceivable by human senses¡ªthe contending light and fog, and the declarations of the Creator Realm Mage that altered the world. ¡°Disaster Sign¡¤Creation Realm. Wheel of Time Reroutes¡¤Spiraling Arc!¡± The battle between man and dragon became a bleak painting, with the greatsword piercing the evil fog belched by the Evil Dragon, star-shaped sparks bursting from the sword tip. The light was warm and gentle, concealing the Evil Dragon¡¯s massive body, and even the blood moon dimmed because of it. As the cross starlight flickered, Gongsun Ce¡¯s consciousness gradually faded away¡­ ¡°!¡± Gongsun Ce abruptly opened his eyes; the real world remained unchanged. There was no grey fog, no cross starlight, only a bespectacled young man leaning against the wall, pressing tightly against his own chest. ¡°Huh¡­ huh¡­¡± Gongsun Ce gasped for breath as if he had just finished vigorous exercise, and it took a good while for his wildly beating heart to return to calm. In a hurry, he grabbed the scroll and noticed that no traces of the Ink Sword remained. He knew all those Ink Swords had hidden themselves in his heart. The swords of the past, the constant nightmares, Yan Qi¡¯s contingency plans¡­ Swords¡­ The Sealing in his heart¡­ Gongsun Ce¡¯s mind was a jumble of thoughts, and he muttered angrily, ¡°You bastard, you forgot to write how damn uncomfortable it is to use this thing.¡± In his mind, a carefree painter laughed unabashedly, and Gongsun Ce could almost imagine what the other would say. Hah, what do I care about your feelings? As long as the thing works! Gongsun Ce wished he could punch the man in his imagination, but of all people, he was the one without the standing to do so. He stood up from the floor, quickly tidied up the things on the table, and went to the bathroom on the second floor to inspect his reflection in the mirror. The Gongsun Ce in the mirror was pale, his eyes hollow, looking just like a dead man. He washed his face with warm water and quickly cycled through expressions in front of the mirror¡ªcrying, laughing, angry, sad¡­ each expression was vivid, providing him some relief as, at least, his basic skills hadn¡¯t slipped. When Gongsun Ce walked away from the mirror, he had completely returned to his usual appearance, back to the composed Superpower User. He descended the stairs, momentarily speechless at the sight of the four rising walls. Gongsun Ce knocked on the heavy metal wall as if knocking on a door: ¡°Hello, anyone there?¡± The soundproof wall rose slowly, and Mo Yuankai in the living room was saying with a smile, ¡°¡­Miss Aidal, you¡¯ve worked hard too. I¡¯m still tracking the exact location of that person in the middle, the other one will arrive at the sewage treatment plant in this district in about fifteen minutes, there¡¯s still time if you leave now on a pigeon.¡± ¡°Thanks for the assistance. Are you sure you don¡¯t want compensation?¡± ¡°How can I charge a fee when Ah Ce introduced you?¡± Gongsun Ce pushed his glasses up, ¡°Mr. Mo, you give me so much face, I¡¯m almost embarrassed. Let me treat you to a salad next time.¡± ¡°Please, no. I¡¯d rather be fat than eat grass. What about the new painting I received?¡± ¡°If you want my opinion, it¡¯s a ruined painting, with the artist¡¯s commentary serving as the finishing touch, perfectly showcasing their self-righteous arrogance.¡± ¡°What painting?¡± Alice asked curiously. Gongsun Ce dropped a negatively-charged comment, ¡°Just some trashy art putting on airs from an elder¡­¡± Hastily, he took the curious Alice and left. The information dealer didn¡¯t rise to see them off, sitting on the sofa watching the two leave his home. ¡°So emotional.¡± Mo Yuankai shook his head and finished the last bit of his cola. He rubbed the surface of the can with his thick fingers, and a hint of light appeared in his hand. The light transformed the red and blue can from cylinder to rectangle, made the paint all withdraw to the side facing his palm, and carved on the smooth surface the appearance of a screen and buttons. The can twisted and deformed like modeling clay, becoming an old-fashioned cell phone in half a minute. Mo Yuankai smacked his lips: ¡°That took long enough for me to make two phone calls.¡± He typed in a number, and the screen of the cellphone, once a cola can, lit up. A few seconds later, the call connected. ¡°Hello, Mr. Yan? This is Mo Yuankai.¡± ¡°Ah Ce got the thing¡­ His reaction? I wouldn¡¯t say happy, what did you tell him? ¡­To go die? Mr. Yan, I must say, it¡¯s understandable why he cursed you.¡± Laughter came through from the other end, carefree as a hooligan chatting and joking with friends on the street corner with a bottle of liquor in hand. ¡°They¡¯re on their way to the sewage treatment plant now, do you know the route? ¡­Asked a local for help? Please don¡¯t drag an ordinary student into this! ¡­Alright, no more questions from me, you¡¯re the expert¡­ It¡¯s in your hands.¡± With that as the end of the conversation, Mo Yuankai squeezed his hand shut. When he opened it again, the cellphone he had just used was back to being a crushed can. He pressed a remote, and the large screen refreshed, changing from the photos of five giant dragon worshippers to a strange painting. The painting depicted a twisted creature with fleshless wings, a bloated body, and an extremely small head with only one eye. It was surrounded by mist, perched above a bell tower, under the blood moon. ¡°One killed, one half-slashed, it never really ends¡­¡± The real Evil Dragon in his memory temporarily overlapped with the painting on the screen, prompting Mo Yuankai to stare at it, his thoughts unknown. ¡°Good luck, Ah Ce,¡± the information dealer leaned back on the sofa tiredly, ¡°I believe in you. Put an end to the past.¡± Chapter 28 - 28 16 The Proud Ones ?28: Chapter 16 The Proud Ones 28: Chapter 16 The Proud Ones Gongsun Ce opened his pocket watch to check the time. The current time was 7:25 am. After traversing nearly half of the Fixed Wing District by pigeon, the two stood in front of the gate of the district¡¯s wastewater treatment plant. ¡°The target¡¯s name is Takizawa Yoshikazu, a former researcher from Zero Island. We suspect he¡¯s in the Divine Realm, but his specific abilities are unknown.¡± ¡°Did Mo Yuankai mention any details?¡± ¡°The information dealer deduced the target location from anomalies in the water flow. From his description, it looks like we will be facing an enemy who uses water in combat.¡± Gongsun Ce took Alice over the gate, flying above it. At this time, his superpower proved exceptionally useful. ¡°Using water in combat¡­ Is this enemy a Strange Phase Mage?¡± While riding the pigeon earlier, Alice had informed him about some basics of the Impermanence Skill. He had already encountered the Desolate Form twice, characteristically enhancing physical abilities, and Alice¡¯s own Brahma Form controlled space or time. The hunter¡¯s description this time reminded him of the strange phase in Impermanence Skill. According to Alice, Strange Phase Mages often excelled at manipulating their surroundings or could generate fire, lightning, or energy orbs as means of attack. They were like mages in fantasy novels. To make a comparison with the superpower users of the Sky City¡ªthey were like those commonly seen as energy emitters. Alice shook her head, ¡°Not necessarily. Water, being readily available, is a convenient material. Quite a few Spiritual Image Mages might use water as a medium to activate their powers, deploying illusions or spiritual attacks. Judging abilities by fragmentary information before seeing the enemy is not feasible.¡± Spiritual Image¡¯s Impermanence Skill often manifested as illusions, mental suggestions, or psychic control. The means of Impermanence Law Enforcers seemed unexpectedly diverse. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived now. I should remind you, this place is no small ramshackle factory in an old city district. A modern wastewater treatment plant covers at least 25,000 square meters, equivalent to more than three large soccer fields. That¡¯s just the land area; if we include buildings like pump rooms, labs, and dehydrator rooms, it could take us all night to search this place thoroughly.¡± What Gongsun Ce said was true, they were now walking along a pathway in the middle of greenery. On both sides, they could see neatly arranged, huge circular sewage pools, and many more facilities they usually wouldn¡¯t come across waiting ahead. Alice Adar visibly shuddered at the sight of these buildings¡ªeach circular pool was covered by a flat layer of the so-called Biochemical Meat Wall; the grey-blue chunks of flesh, glowing green in the darkness, undoubtedly proved their origin as biochemical creations of this city. Alice swallowed nervously and said, ¡°Tell me what these Biochemical Meat Walls are first.¡± ¡°They¡¯re scientifically known as Purifying Biochemical Meat Walls, similar in the middle to Biochemical Horses and Biochemical Pigeons, but we usually omit these details when talking about them.¡± ¡°They¡¯re literally called Biochemical Meat Walls?! How many such biotech creatures have I seen today, and why do the researchers here always mess with this stuff?!¡± ¡°How should I know? Maybe the nuts in Cecil Laboratory think that giant pigeons, horses, and chunks of meat are cooler and handsomer than laser guns, satellite lasers, and giant robots.¡± Gongsun Ce could understand the hunter¡¯s confusion; he also thought that giant robots were much more impressive than these messy biochemical products. However, those white-cloaked research outcomes did have some practical value¡ªas they walked by the sewage pools, they hadn¡¯t noticed any strange smells, thanks to these biological tissues. Alice twitched the corners of her mouth, ¡°Both robots and biochemical monsters are strange, aren¡¯t they¡­ Do you know the layout here? What¡¯s the first step in processing wastewater usually?¡± She doesn¡¯t like giant robots; what¡¯s up with this woman! ¡°I visited here once in high school. The wastewater treatment plant in Sky City also uses the activated sludge method. A few years ago, the white-cloaked created new species of water-purifying microorganisms. Along with the Biochemical Meat Walls you just saw, they greatly enhance the water purification efficiency¡ªwe usually call that stuff¡­¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s called Purifying Biochemical Mud.¡± ¡°You¡¯re becoming more like a local.¡± Gongsun Ce clapped his hands in encouragement, ¡°Based on the little memory I have left, wastewater flows into a large sedimentation pool before being purified by the microorganisms.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s start by examining where the wastewater flows in. If he really used his abilities here, we should be able to see some traces¡­ God, I fought with Tierlos before dinner, and now I¡¯m messing around with sewage next to biochemical chunks after dinner; this mission¡¯s tougher on my stomach than my brain.¡± Look on the bright side, at least your heart hasn¡¯t stopped beating. ¡°On the bright side, at least you didn¡¯t eat stinky tofu, durian, or fermented tofu tonight.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to force yourself to speak if you can¡¯t think of anything nice to say.¡± Alice gagged slightly. They kept walking, occasionally checking their map to confirm their directions and running for some time before finally spotting what the superpower user called the sedimentation pool¡ªa row of square pools separated by railed walkways. The murky wastewater surged through the pool, filtering out sediment quickly. Although the workers at the sewage plant had evacuated before their arrival, these large facilities were still operating automatically. This time, there were no biological tissues on top of the pool; the peculiar smell of wastewater rushed into Gongsun Ce¡¯s nostrils. He noticed some gray-blue meat roots remaining on the edges of the square pool; it seemed that workers took away the Biochemical Meat Walls during the evacuation. Perhaps, due to the haste, they hadn¡¯t managed to complete the process¡­ ¡°Wait for me a moment¡­¡± Alice took out a piece of paper, drew a symbol resembling the sun on it, and tried a few times to touch it to the sewage without success, her face green with frustration. ¡°Show some gentlemanly deportment, will you?¡± ¡°If you need help, just say it early.¡± Gongsun Ce pointed to the sedimentation pool. The piece of paper in Hunter¡¯s hands drifted down and touched the sewage. A second later, an invisible force pulled it up. The sky was pitch dark under the crescent moon, but fortunately, Gongsun Ce had gradually adapted to the dark environment. He saw that the sun symbol drawn with a black pen was gradually turning into a bright red. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I guess this is a sign of a reaction.¡± Alice tore off the paper in one swift motion, ¡°Anyone could see that. Be ready¡ªthe worshippers of the giant dragon have arrived first, he might¡ª¡± ¡°He might attack us at any time! No, no, young lady. Before that, there are more important things for you to worry about.¡± A strange, mocking voice reached their ears. The voice sounded somewhat muffled, as if something was blocking it, yet the speaker made no attempt to hide. Although the speaker¡¯s volume wasn¡¯t very high, his words overshadowed the noise from the pool and were clearer than the conversation they had just had. Gongsun Ce and Alice turned around simultaneously; a tall figure was walking out of the darkness. ¡°Did you hear that? Not bad, at least your ears aren¡¯t deaf yet!¡± Alice drew a short arrow warily, ¡°Who are you?¡± He was a tall man who was slovenly dressed. He wore a white shirt, business trousers, and the buttons at the shirt¡¯s collar were unfastened, almost revealing his chest; a black coat hung from his shoulders, and he wore a silvery-white mask on his head, showing no contours of facial features, except for the messy black hair visible above the mask. The eerily dressed man sauntered towards them, pointing at their faces with his finger from a distance, ¡°Look at your foolish faces. A bizarre hunter leading a stubborn student, wandering around here, focusing entirely on the stinking pool without even noticing someone behind them. Hahaha!¡± The masked man didn¡¯t respond to Alice¡¯s question, just laughed uproariously in a very disrespectful manner which greatly displeased Gongsun Ce, as he detested such disrespectful individuals. Gongsun Ce frowned, ¡°You¡ª¡± ¡°I came here intending to handle matters, but I ended up watching a comedy show the whole way. It killed me!¡± He was interrupted as soon as he started speaking, the masked man didn¡¯t even focus on the superpower user. He turned his head to the empty darkness and said, ¡°What do you think, girl?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re quite rude.¡± A cold female voice came from the dark, causing Gongsun Ce and Alice to tense up immediately. They had been alert when the man appeared but had not noticed the presence of a fourth person at the scene! ¡°Nobody cares about your opinion! All you need to do is agree with me.¡± ¡°To continue, I think you lack decency.¡± ¡°Will you stop nagging, young lady?¡± Another silvery-white mask emerged from the darkness. The second masked owner stepped out from behind the man. She had long black hair and wore a tight-fitting combat outfit. She was well-proportioned and not at all frail, holding a dark long-handled greatsword in one hand. Unlike the arrogant man, Gongsun Ce clearly felt this woman¡¯s gaze. Even though he couldn¡¯t see her expression through the mask, he was sure she was watching him. The masked man dug at his ear, disdainfully noting, ¡°What are you still standing around for, get lost!¡± Alice ignored the man¡¯s roars. She calmly stated, ¡°I am Alice Adar, a hunter of the kingdom, currently investigating dragon worshipers infiltrating the City of Sky with this collaborator. Unknown masked person, might I ask why you have come here?¡± ¡°Minor characters dare to blabber nonsense, what in the world!¡± For the first time since his arrival, the two felt his stare. It seemed like only then did he begin to take the hunter and the superpower user seriously. The masked man pulled a wooden token from his pocket and waved it in his hand. ¡°Imperial Rites Department business, unrelated persons and riffraff must clear off.¡± Chapter 29 - 29 17 The Martial Arts of Protection ?29: Chapter 17 The Martial Arts of Protection 29: Chapter 17 The Martial Arts of Protection The events that followed were completely unforeseen by both of them. The woman with the long sword behind the masked man lifted her slender leg¡ª and kicked the man in the back. ¡°Damn it!¡± With a loud clang, the tall masked man instantly fell face-first to the ground, hitting the dirt hard. Gongsun Ce clapped loudly, applauding the beautiful kick, ¡°Nice legwork!¡± The woman with the long sword looked down at the man on the ground and said coldly, ¡°Please don¡¯t disgrace the Empire in front of foreigners and students.¡± ¡°You dare kick your superior in the back? Is that how your grandfather taught you?!¡± With her hand on her hip, the woman with the long sword showed no sign of remorse but rather a righteous indignation, ¡°Grandpa says I¡¯m a good kid, so if something bothers me, it must be the other party¡¯s fault. I originally planned to kick your butt but decided to spare you some dignity by targeting your back instead, quite considerate, right?¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Alice couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. The masked man got up cursing, ¡°No wonder you¡¯re the old man¡¯s granddaughter¡­ What are you still staring at? Scram!¡± Gongsun Ce spread his hands, ¡°Why should I listen to your orders? This is the City of the Sky governed by three countries, even if you are an official of the Empire, you have no control over me.¡± ¡°Ha! You have the nerve to talk bureaucracy with me? Let me put it in terms you can understand then.¡± The masked man didn¡¯t care about the dust on his clothes and sat cross-legged on the ground. Although his face was hidden behind the mask, everyone present formed an image of an arrogantly composed face in their minds. ¡°I am an expert, far superior to any woman by your side, an authority above anyone you¡¯ve ever met. If you have even a shred of responsibility for this city, you should take that third-rate Hunter and scram.¡± Alice responded coolly, ¡°I really did learn something new today¡ªis this how Imperial Impermanence Law Enforcers treat foreign guests?¡± The woman with the long sword intentionally took a few steps aside, distancing herself from the man. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, members of the Ministry of Rites of the Yiji Hall, from An Yushi to the lowest footman, are all knowledgeable and virtuous gentlemen. The actions of this off-duty personnel are purely his individual issue and have nothing to do with the conduct of the Yiji Hall.¡± Such skillful deflection, clearly a result of being steeped in the official Imperial culture. Yet she had indeed resorted to physical actions, making it uncertain who was further from being a gentleman. Even so, Gongsun Ce had to admit that kick earlier did make him feel much better. He implied sharply, ¡°You claim to be an expert? I don¡¯t think someone who reveals only their role but not even their name can be trusted much.¡± ¡°Role, name¡­ You¡¯re just a student, focusing only on meaningless titles. To judge if someone is trustworthy, the most critical step is to understand their goals and stance. Don¡¯t you even know that? How did such an idiot like you get into college?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Gongsun Ce closed his eyes, reminding himself to keep his emotions in check. He hadn¡¯t forgotten his purpose here; a dragon devotee capable of battling with water was hidden somewhere in the area. If a fight broke out and the dragon fanatic benefited from it, it would be a complete joke. Alice patted his shoulder, her voice also laced with some anger, ¡°Unfortunately, he has much more common sense than your so-called expert. We are running around to prevent the summoning of a dragon, and what are you here for?¡± The masked man swayed his head, speaking in his uniquely irritating, arrogant tone: ¡°None of your business.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You!¡± ¡°You say you want to stop the summoning of a dragon, how do I know you¡¯re not just trying to gain favor with the Country? Maybe you plan to sell the secret to some rich idiot for a profit. Similarly, if I say I¡¯m here to save the world, would you believe me? Cut the crap, all this talk about determining goals and cooperating is bullshit. Who compensates me for my efforts and feelings if I get deceived?¡± Gongsun Ce was close to losing his patience, ¡°There should be a limit to double standards!¡± ¡°Angry? Young and impetuous, kid, you better leave here and vent your surplus energy by playing house with everyone at school. And besides¡­¡± the masked man got up from the ground, ¡°since when does the Yiji Hall need long-winded explanations for its actions? I¡¯ve already said more than enough to you; you should be thanking the expert.¡± ¡°That¡¯s going to be difficult.¡± Gongsun Ce stared at the masked man, unyielding in his tone, ¡°Based on your logic, we also cannot trust you at all. What reasonable solution do you propose, expert?¡± Alice subtly made a hand gesture behind her back. At this angle, the duo facing her couldn¡¯t see her slight movement, but Gongsun Ce, standing behind her, saw it clearly. Her fingers came together, reminding one of a bud yet to bloom. ¡°This is simple¡­¡± The masked man raised his hand, as if he wanted to touch his chin. It seemed he remembered halfway that he was wearing a mask, so his hand, raised halfway, fell back down and he clapped his palms together, producing a crisp sound. ¡°You all should just die.¡± With a sudden movement, the masked man thrust out his right arm and grabbed Alice by the throat, pushing the Hunter to the ground with one hand! The situation changed in an instant; Alice activated her superpower and vanished along with the masked man. Gongsun Ce, who had been alerted earlier, immediately took to the skies, but he lost sight of the long-knife-wielding woman. The woman, dressed in a tight suit, appeared abruptly behind Gongsun Ce, her elbow smashing down with the speed of lightning! ¡°!¡± The terrible scene of his flesh being indented played vividly in his imagination, pain spreading from his nerves to every part of his body, the intense impact almost making Gongsun Ce cry out in pain. The powerful force hit right into Gongsun Ce¡¯s back, slamming the Superpower User to the hard concrete ground like a meteor. At the last moment, Gongsun Ce controlled his body with telekinesis, barely skimming the ground as he flew towards the distance. Enduring the intense pain, he turned his head mid-air and finally caught a glimpse of his assailant. The woman in the black tight suit almost blended into the night; she leaped with one leg, catching up with the telekinetic flight, her foot striking Gongsun Ce¡¯s head with piercing force! The enemy was too fast! His protective telekinetic net sensed her attack, but Gongsun Ce¡¯s reaction speed couldn¡¯t keep up with her movements. This wasn¡¯t Superpower or Impermanence Skill; this was a Miracle achieved solely through physical strength and technique, belonging to the ¡°Martial Arts¡± Domain! ¡°¡ªEnough is enough!¡± Controlling her actions was out of the question; Gongsun Ce chose to defend with his ability. Telekinesis instantly formed three barriers, all shattered by the woman¡¯s kick. A tad too slow, the white matter emerged just in time, barely protecting Gongsun Ce¡¯s head. The long-knife woman immediately changed tactics, stepping on the barrier for leverage, dodging the three white matter spears launched by Gongsun Ce. In the blink of an eye, the three exchanges were over; the long-knife woman performed a roll on the ground and stood firm, while Gongsun Ce soared into the air, breathing heavily. He wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead, shouting anxiously, ¡°Can this end already?! Please prioritize correctly!¡± The long-knife woman tilted her head, but actually started speaking with him. ¡°Priorities? That¡¯s a strange thing to say when I¡¯m in the middle of carrying out my main mission.¡± Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, ¡°Do you even understand the situation?! Any fight can wait until we finish our actual business. Come with me to find the giant dragon worshiper!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one mistaken, amateur.¡± The long-knife woman said in an annoyingly arrogant tone. ¡°That giant dragon worshiper is probably just a Divine Communication Mage. Such a minor antagonist can be instantly killed by your power alone, what threat is there to speak of?¡± Interesting logic. By myself, I can instantly kill them? Gongsun Ce flexed his neck, barely concealing his smirk as he retorted, ¡°Oh? Since you have such faith in Mr. Gongsun¡¯s strength, why then do you stand in my way?¡± The words his enemy spoke next left him dumbfounded. ¡°¡ªIt¡¯s to protect you, Gongsun Ce.¡± Before he knew it, the long-knife woman finally utilized her weapon. The ink-black long blade left her hand, snaking through the air, transforming into a spinning blade wheel chopping towards Gongsun Ce¡¯s right arm! Gongsun Ce immediately dodged, using white matter to launch numerous long spears towards the ground in a full-scale assault. The pure white spears fell like rain, but the woman¡¯s trace was gone from the ground. Heeding his lesson, Gongsun Ce moved rapidly in the air, constantly changing his position to dodge the looming attack. Gongsun Ce didn¡¯t think merely ascending to the sky would leave her helpless, and indeed, as he expected: after her sudden advance, the long-knife woman leapt up, reaching the same height as him through her propulsion force. She couldn¡¯t fly, but she could stand in mid-air, as the atmosphere solidified into dark platforms under her feet! ¡°Don¡¯t think of escaping, Gongsun Ce.¡± An Empire¡¯s Martial Artist snatched the long knife back, predicting and slicing through Gongsun Ce¡¯s telekinetic missiles as if predestined. The dancing blade gleamed without slowing her speed; the woman in black clothes and black hair charged through the night, as though the night itself transformed into a human form. The sky under her power was no different from the ground! Her explosive power was even faster than Gongsun Ce¡¯s flying velocity, breaking even the sound barrier. The distance was closed in an instant, her blade mercilessly slashing towards Gongsun Ce¡¯s right arm! Clang! A prepared barrier of white matter blocked the ink-black blade, but the storm of their exchange pounded Gongsun Ce downward. He gritted his teeth and asked, ¡°Chopping off my arm counts as protection?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. This dangerous situation is not something an amateur like you should be involved in¡­¡± The woman transformed the air platform into a jelly-like substance, bouncing downwards, her blade aimed straight for his neck. ¡°Even if I need to cut off your limbs, I will make you give up.¡± Chapter 30 - 30 18 Youlan Sea ?30: Chapter 18 Youlan Sea 30: Chapter 18 Youlan Sea At the same moment, at the other end of the sewage treatment plant. A tall man in a mask picked up an orchid. A short, black arrow shot out from it, but before it hit its target, he grabbed it with one hand. He scoffed and casually threw the arrow back. The weapon flew faster than Alice had expected, and its tip tore through her hunting outfit, grazing her arm and leaving a bloody mark. ¡°So this is your ¡®Divine Communication¡¯? Ha¡­¡± Alice didn¡¯t get angry at the other¡¯s provocation; only someone impulsive like Gongsun Ce would fall for such a simple taunt. She had negotiated with the man before, feeling disdain for his arrogant demeanor but not losing her rationality. On the surface, she had confronted him head-on, but she had long been prepared in secret, hoping to provoke him into making the first move so she could gauge the true nature of his abilities. If it was a wide-range attack, she would retreat with Gongsun Ce immediately; otherwise, she would teleport the man in the mask to a distant location. The Empire¡¯s Yiji Hall was the world¡¯s oldest Impermanence Skill society. This pair was from a distinguished background, and their coordination was naturally superior to her recent acquaintance with Gongsun Ce. If they fought a two-on-two battle, they were likely to be at a disadvantage. It was better to split the battlefield and fight independently. Alice believed that the Superpower User wouldn¡¯t be easily defeated. However, she had not anticipated¡­ That the real trouble would arise on her end. ¡°You always speak with such a lofty tone. Is this a common bad habit among the people of the Empire?¡± She took two steps forward, maintaining a suitable distance. Carefully observing his movements, she prepared for any sudden ambush. Relying on her own abilities, Alice had yet to suffer any real damage since the fight began. However, the enemy was also unharmed. ¡ªBecause Alice had no way of injuring him. ¡°How I speak is none of your fucking business.¡± The man simply admired the orchid in his hand, showing no concern for his opponent in front of him. This was very strange because the Shadow Orchid had been in his hand for more than a dozen seconds. According to a Hunter¡¯s experience, the flower should have faded and vanished in a non-shadowy environment by now. Yet the flower still existed in the palm of the man, unaffected by the change in environment. ¡°So this is what your heart looks like. Boring and full of yourself,¡± he said. Retracting his previous words, it turned out that provocation was useful after all. Temples throbbing with anger, Alice retorted, ¡°Full of myself? You think you have the right to say that to others?!¡± ¡°The vessel of desire is the flower, the stipulated environment is the shadow, and the most important wish is to transfer, to escape,¡± the masked man closed his hand, crushing the orchid into powder. ¡°The desire is simple, the symbolism clear, easy to interpret, boring and mundane. In your heart, you see yourself as an elegant flower, but unfortunately, what nurtures you is the shadow beneath the light. Hence, your wish is to escape the shadows and move to a new world¡ª¡± The orchid turned into pale blue points of light and drifted away from his palm, while the masked man laughed heartily. ¡°Ha! Too bad the ¡®Dragon Slaying Skill¡¯ isn¡¯t about making dreams come true, it¡¯s just a technique using psychic power! What you desire and what you get often go in opposite directions. Even if you follow the advice of your predecessors step by step, the road you end up on is utterly different, why else would it be called the ¡®Impermanence Skill¡¯? Just like your ¡®Divine Communication Skill¡¯, the wish to escape from the shadows is fulfilled, but the final destination is still another shadow!¡± ¡°You¡ª!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel too good using that ability, does it? Out of the goodness of my heart, let me give you some advice, start by changing the way you conduct yourself, how about that?¡± the masked man shrugged. ¡°There¡¯s a limit to being full of yourself, no beautiful flowers can grow in the shadows. You and those you disdain, in the eyes of others, are nothing but Hyenas operating in the dark, no different at all. Might as well scrap it and start over as a ¡®Shadow Hound¡¯ or a dark worm, might see a significant increase in power, hahahaha!¡± Now, Alice finally understood Gongsun Ce¡¯s actions. When something you care about is trampled on, when a side of you, you wish to keep hidden is brought up without any regard for your feelings, even the most even-tempered person can erupt in anger. It was a bit astonishing to her that Gongsun Ce had actually managed to exchange a few words with this guy; with his composure, it was an extraordinary performance. ¡°What ¡®Realm¡¯ does someone like you belong to then? The same ¡®Divine Communication¡¯ as me, or is it ¡®Manifestation¡¯?¡± Alice threw a short arrow with a flick of her wrist; the arrow embedded in the shadow orchid and shot out from behind the tall man. The masked man dodged the Hunter¡¯s attack with an agility as if he had eyes on his back, only laughing and saying, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± That was the last straw that thoroughly enraged the Hunter. ¡°Do you even know what shadows are, expert?¡± Alice¡¯s hand brushed across her waist, and three short arrows disappeared, shooting out from three different little orchids at the masked man. Whirling unsteadily on his feet, the masked man dodged the flurry of arrows with incredible footwork. But this time, the arrows didn¡¯t fall powerlessly; a flash of blue light skittered across the ground, and the arrows once again shot out from the man¡¯s back, side, and front! ¡°Oh?¡± The masked man¡¯s movements never stopped, but his eyes saw clearly. More orchids sprouted from the ground, undertaking the task of transferring and then relaunching the arrows before they hit the ground. This operation required predicting the trajectory of each arrow in advance ¡ª a feat remarkably precise, yet bizarrely the flowers blossomed not in his or Alice¡¯s shadow, but like ordinary plants, sprouting from the ground! ¡°Expanding the concept of shadow to places untouched by light, huh? That¡¯s somewhat clever.¡± The so-called shadow refers to the place that light cannot reach, the darkness of no light. That could be the dim pocket of clothing, the shadow under a metal object, or the land devoid of sun. That is to say¡­ ¡°Every space unlit by the night sky is my domain!¡± Alice threw three short arrows again, the doubled quantity of Demon-breaking Arrows tracing intricate trajectories, weaving around the masked man¡¯s side into a deadly, impenetrable net of death! ¡°Shadow Orchid, Youlan Sea.¡± Thousands of orchids blossomed in an instant, appearing in the grass beside the road, growing on gray stones, and sprouting from the concrete walls of buildings. Everywhere their gaze fell was filled with the pale blue of fresh flowers, and in the blink of an eye, the area had become a sea of orchids! S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the method used to encircle the tall man with mere arrows ¡ª creating flowers everywhere, there would always be a way to re-launch the arrows from any angle. Now the masked man looked even more disheveled than when he had fallen to the ground, his coat covered in slashes, and several large holes torn in his shirt at the chest and abdomen. Yet the man was not panicked, he scoffed: ¡°What a petty woman you are, not even a word of thanks for my kind advice, and now throwing a tantrum here!¡± ¡°Why not reflect on the way you speak instead!¡± Alice¡¯s figure vanished on the spot and instantly appeared behind the man. She struck out slyly at the masked man¡¯s back, her eyes burning with rage like flames! After locking down his movements with Demon-breaking Arrows, Alice was ready to launch a real attack. Teleporting a creature is a delicate task, even a slight mishap could result in irreversible consequences. Alice intended to do just the opposite; as she had shattered the quay at the docks, she was set to tear the man¡¯s body apart by an erroneous teleportation! The masked man laughed rather than getting angry: ¡°Ha! Are you really going to strike me hard?¡± ¡°Did you call me a hyena?¡± shouted Alice angrily, ¡°Then let me show you the way a hyena fights!¡± The tall man ignored the arrows about to pierce him, and he paid no attention to the Hunter¡¯s hand reaching for his right side. He simply held up a finger. ¡°Not bad, woman, isn¡¯t this more interesting?¡± Alice¡¯s hand and the short arrows were about to touch his body, the masked man seemed also ready to use his superpower, and at that moment¡ª Dozens of murky high-pressure water streams shot out simultaneously from afar, away from the battlefield! The streams sliced through the lawn like blades, chopping the fresh green tips evenly, and the buildings that stood in their path were equally split in two by the powerful liquid blades. The wild dance of water lines divided the whole area into unevenly sized pieces, where touching the edge meant certain death. Lurking assailants had gone all out, determined to ensnare both combatants in their net during their fierce struggle! ¡°Tsk.¡± Alice¡¯s clicking tongue sounded from afar. The water blades struck empty space, the Hunter walked out from the distant flowers, tightly grasping someone¡¯s shoulder. In the final moment, Alice decisively abandoned her imminent attack, choosing instead to shift herself and the Empire¡¯s expert together. After all, she bore a heavy responsibility¡­ she couldn¡¯t let an internal fight among experts deter her from the most deserving target to be killed. The masked man was sizing up the enemy who had launched the water knives ¡ª they were a dozen bizarre creatures. Each possessed the head of a lion, the tail of a snake, and the body of a goat, and their bodies were composed of murky sewage with an unbearable stench. They moved silently, as light as a stream of water. The masked man didn¡¯t utter a word, and Alice couldn¡¯t help but say: ¡°What¡¯s your expert opinion on this?¡± ¡°Boring to the core, even more uninteresting than your flowers. Impermanence Skill is not disgusting skill; achieving such a form only proves that this madman has problems with his intelligence.¡± The masked man waved his hand disdainfully, as if swatting flies, ¡°Waited so long to see such a thing, what a piece of garbage!¡± The beasts lunged silently at the two, and the tall man flicked his finger. In an instant, the chimeras formed from the sewage all stopped in their place. ¡°Truce. Do whatever you like, I won¡¯t waste my time here.¡± The masked man threw a bundle of objects that Alice instinctively caught. ¡°Here are your arrows.¡± After all this, he turned his back on the Hunter, ignoring the wild beasts immobilized beside him, and ambled away nonchalantly. Alice looked at the objects thrown by the man, which were six neatly arranged black short arrows. The man had managed to catch the fluttering arrows in the previous instant, but Alice, standing right beside him, had completely failed to notice the man¡¯s action¡­ What exactly was this man¡¯s ability? The worshippers of the giant dragon had attacked, but this self-proclaimed expert walked away instead¡ªwhat had he come here for? Alice felt rare confusion. Just as she was about to pursue the strange man to get to the bottom of it, her mind flashed back to the Superpower User who had parted ways with her not long before. ¡°Damn, Gongsun Ce!¡± Alice turned her head toward the direction of the sewage pool, just in time to see a massive amount of sewage explode towards the sky. Far away the booming sounds were continuous, like thunderbolts. Chapter 31 - 31 19 Fierce Battle ?31: Chapter 19 Fierce Battle 31: Chapter 19 Fierce Battle Minutes ago, near the sewage pool. Gongsun Ce retreated downwards due to the stormy exchange of blows, while the masked woman relentlessly pursued him, slashing at his vital points with her longsword. There was little emotion in her voice, yet it carried an undeniable determination. ¡°Even if I have to sever your limbs, I will make you give up.¡± She was serious. The conviction in each of her moves left no room for doubt; this woman truly intended to maim him to the point where he could no longer fight. To reach such lengths was far from protective. It was akin to breaking a child¡¯s legs in advance to prevent them from drowning while swimming or blinding a driver to avert a car accident; violence intertwined with action, resulting in such ludicrous outcomes. This was not a kindness any normal person could comprehend, as it was fundamentally filled with an insane veer from the start. To this unusual martial artist, negotiation was never an option. So, so¡­ ¡°Since you¡¯re so determined, Miss Expert¡­¡± Gongsun Ce squinted his eyes, focusing on the mask that kept drawing closer. ¡°Mr. Gongsun here will have to get serious too.¡± In an instant, violent winds erupted within the sewage treatment plant! Exceedingly rapid movements whipped up a tempest, stirring up a whirlwind of dust and debris close to the ground. Gongsun Ce disappeared without a trace, but the woman with the longsword caught his movement: the superpower user increased his telekinesis output drastically, ¡°slamming¡± himself to the side! ¡°You¡ª¡± The woman with the longsword quickly withdrew her attack and jumped back to evade with one hand on the ground. In the moment her gaze shifted, she caught sight of the gray-haired youth in the air. Gongsun Ce, wiping the blood from his lips, spoke nonchalantly: ¡°What¡¯s so surprising? Just injuring oneself a little, I wouldn¡¯t care.¡± Treating his body as an object and his flesh as a weapon to be expended, such a brute method of combat naturally had an immediate effect, but it would surely harm the fighter himself. But this man didn¡¯t care, he was indifferent, and just like his opponent with the longsword, this superpower user was also an aberration, deviating from common sense! ¡°I indeed haven¡¯t fought seriously in a while. Make a dramatic move and my body creaks, feels like it¡¯s about to fall apart. You¡¯re right, at this level, participating in events just doesn¡¯t work¡­¡± Gongsun Ce moved his neck a little, raining down countless telekinetic missiles, binding the martial artist¡¯s movements. He also released a sturdy white substance in front of his body, which under his will, kept forming, extending, and even temporarily obscured the vision of the woman with the longsword¡­ That was a white substance dome about a hundred meters in radius! ¡°Are you ready, Miss Expert?¡± Gongsun Ce punched the top of the white dome, ¡°Here I come!¡± Under his punch, the white dome shattered into thousands of sharp fragments, which propelled by telekinesis, shot towards the ground like a meteor shower, creating a wave of destruction. Gongsun Ce knew how agile his opponent was; he gave up precise strikes and instead opted to restrict her movements with a wide-range barrage! The white substance rain seemed chaotic, yet was precisely controlled with the aid of telekinesis. The woman with the longsword made a decision on the spot. She used her swift pursuit speed to move out of the attack zone and used her strange ability to affect the air for assistance. Black walls of air formed by her side, these makeshift barriers could only withstand the barrage of white shards for a moment, yet, in what seemed like an insignificant duration to a common person, to a highly skilled martial artist, it became a precious ¡°opportunity.¡± Her longsword transformed, its blade morphing from metal-like hardness to water-like clarity, reforming under her deft control into a liquid state, reshaped and divided, instantly turning into a longbow and a black arrow. The woman with the longsword leapt lightly, crossing the extensive reach of the attack, turning mid-air to draw the bow. The bowstring twanged softly, the black arrow disappeared from sight, carrying the force to split mountains and rocks! ¡°Shooting Yue.¡± The woman with the longsword used her real technique, a strike powerful enough to penetrate mountains! Gongsun Ce¡¯s white substance couldn¡¯t match the arrow¡¯s speed, and pure telekinesis defense couldn¡¯t block its impact. He reused the tactic of forcibly moving himself, almost self-destructively changing his position. But the woman with the longsword didn¡¯t miss this chance, swiftly predicting his location and rushing right beside Gongsun Ce, morphing the bow back into a longsword and thrusting! ¡°You really have a lot of confidence in me!¡± Gongsun Ce narrowly evaded in mid-air, ¡°If I got hit, not just limbs but my whole body would¡¯ve exploded, right?¡± ¡°Not at all. The force is precisely controlled, creating at most a 3-meter radius hole.¡± ¡°That¡¯s even worse, obliteration without a trace! What are you even protecting?!¡± ¡°You won¡¯t get hit anyway.¡± Boom! Boom! Boom! The sound of cannonfire-like booms continued to erupt, the density of the noise akin to a torrential downpour. Explosive shockwaves continuously formed under the night sky, unceasing, every ring-shaped sonic boom signifying an exchange, and the myriad sounds of explosions were traces of battle that had yet to dissipate. Their movements were nearly impossible to capture, only the gray and black phantoms could be seen colliding, clashing, flickering in the air and on the ground. A storm of blows was met with Invisible Fist, a pointed knife-hand strike was countered with a multi-directional attack of buckshot, and actions that disrupted the atmosphere¡¯s landing spot provided power to the opponent; thus, use the scattered fragments to create traps in return¡­ Counter for counter, tit for tat, the superpower user and the martial artist fought with increasing ferocity, both fully alert. They didn¡¯t want to damage the environment extensively¡­ nor did they wish to inflict truly dangerous injuries on each other! ¡°Disperse!¡± The battle couldn¡¯t go on like this, it had to be swiftly resolved! Gongsun Ce aimed for the moment the martial artist would land and created a massive telekinetic bullet, which he then shattered into hundreds of peculiarly routed telekinesis beams shot all at once. The woman with the longsword, using air currents to discern the attack¡¯s orientation, seized the fleeting opening to advance. ¡°Shift.¡± However, telekinesis isn¡¯t a tangible substance and could change shape at any moment. Gongsun Ce clapped his hands together, and the evaded telekinetic beams immediately turned and struck towards the woman with the longsword¡¯s back. The martial artist didn¡¯t turn to defend, throwing her longsword backward instead. She abandoned her weapon! The dark longsword, charged with an earlier thrust of force, exploded in mid-air, and the martial artist used the recoil from the detonation to dodge the telekinesis attack, reaching right in front of Gongsun Ce. She angled her body, striking Gongsun Ce¡¯s abdomen with a single hand. ¡°Invisible Strike!¡± Once again, she unleashed her true abilities, a secret technique beyond mere skills. This seemingly soft strike masked a ruthlessly powerful force that would entirely enter the enemy¡¯s body, destroying it from within. The Martial Artist¡¯s heart hesitated for a moment, but having resolved to stop her, there was no reason to hold back. As she threw her punch, she watched Gongsun Ce¡¯s eyes, thinking they must carry disbelief and confusion, along with his usual anger¡­ But the grey-haired young man¡¯s eyes shimmered only with mirth, the pleasure of a successful scheme. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°!¡± A massive, invisible force pressed down from above, telekinetic power unleashed without reservation, dense as the terrible pressure at the depths of the ocean. A three-story office building five meters away instantly collapsed with a wail, the concrete ground shattered like porcelain, and the surrounding grass was blasted upward by the pressure! Gongsun Ce had limited this power to just a five-meter radius, drawing the Martial Artist into a decisive charge as he built up his energy. The woman wielding the Longsword could move under this pressure, but the drastically altered environment slowed her reactions for a critical instant, and in a fight at this level, a single instant could determine victory or defeat. As the Longsword-wielding woman momentarily seized up, Gongsun Ce reached out his right hand¡­ Without any force, without any technique. He simply, gently, placed it on her head. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± Caught off guard, the Martial Artist let out a cute grunt. Gongsun Ce gently stroked his opponent¡¯s head, smiling as he said, ¡°It seems Mr. Gongsun is the stronger one after all. Now you have no reason to protect me.¡± The Martial Artist could find no retort, murmuring quietly, ¡°¡­Don¡¯t take liberties.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Gongsun Ce patted her head, contentedly withdrawing his hand. There was no need to be lethal, no need to cause her harm. The obsessive yet maniacal benevolence was still kindness, and he, far from normal, could fully comprehend her feelings. In Gongsun Ce¡¯s eyes, this Martial Artist was never a madwoman seeking to harm him¡­ She was just a girl, wanting to protect him. Gongsun Ce withdrew his telekinetic power and descended from the air. The masked girl stood silently before him. What a cute creature. ¡°You feel better now, right?¡± Gongsun Ce asked with a smile, ¡°Nighttime public safety is quite poor these days. It¡¯s better for a girl not to walk alone, hurry and go to a safe place with that annoying uncle.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m still not at ease,¡± the girl said sulkily, ¡°Especially when you, an amateur, haven¡¯t even resolved your own issues.¡± Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t think of an appropriate response and said with an awkward chuckle, ¡°How about I treat you to dessert?¡± ¡°You see! That¡¯s an annoyed response. Do you think I¡¯m a child?¡± She stamped her foot angrily, ¡°I want a chestnut cake.¡± ¡°Alright, alright¡­¡± After the intense battle, the two had no more reason to fight. The once tense atmosphere gradually relaxed, like the carefree time during a school break. What they didn¡¯t know was that a pair of eyes were observing them from the shadows. ¡¤ It was time to make a move. The Impermanence Law Enforcer made his judgment from the darkness. Their combat will had diminished, their vigilance no longer as sharp as before. The plan was to reduce their numbers through internal strife among the experts, but it was a pity the swiftly moving target was too difficult to hit, so he had to wait for the right moment¡­ And now was that moment. A sewage pool, almost forgotten by all, saw a mass of sludge rise to the surface, silently transforming into the shape of a beast. It suppressed its aura, compressing the water inside its body, before the filthy high-pressure water jetted out like a bullet, a strike with enough force to cleave trees, aimed straight at the hearts of the two in the distance! However, the water jet scattered the moment it was shot, blasted apart by another powerful force aimed directly at it, shattering the high-pressure water jet along with the sewage beast itself. Gongsun Ce, expressionless, reached out to the side, his telekinesis fueled by his fury striking the sewage pool. A roaring repercussion echoed throughout the factory area, the impact causing the sewage to erupt like a fountain! ¡°Has anyone ever told you¡­¡± The Superpower User scattered the assaulting water with his telekinesis, pushed up his glasses, and in a markedly different tone, remarked. ¡°Launching a sneak attack during someone else¡¯s conversation is very impolite.¡± Chapter 32 - 32 20 Defeat Water Ruin Beast Part 1 ?32: Chapter 20 Defeat Water Ruin Beast (Part 1) 32: Chapter 20 Defeat Water Ruin Beast (Part 1) ¡°Launching a sneak attack during someone else¡¯s conversation is quite impolite.¡± The septic tank had been completely destroyed by the bombardment of telekinesis, but the mass of sewage it stirred up didn¡¯t fall back down due to inertia; instead, it transformed into a nearly fifty-meter-long giant shark. This filthy shark plunged back into the tank, emitting a threatening hiss at the two, which made the masked woman worriedly say, ¡°The god of the septic tank has appeared because of your raid.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no god this stinky in the world!¡± Gongsun Ce habitually retorted and began to closely observe the situation in the septic tank. He noticed the ambush and immediately took action, bringing the entire pool within his range of attack, hoping to defeat the hidden assailant in one fell swoop. But the mere appearance of the shark indicated that the Impermanence Law Enforcer hadn¡¯t been so easily defeated. Glug-glug. Beside the circulating shark, a string of bubbles emerged from the scant water left. The murky bubbles burst on the water¡¯s surface, the color of muddy water protruded, and a man appeared from the pool, standing with both feet on the fast-flowing sewage. Although the man had emerged from the septic pool, not a stain was visible on his clothes. With upturned eyes and long hair, dressed in blue, his face gloomy, he was one of the five people recently introduced by the information broker and the target of Gongsun Ce¡¯s journey. The long-haired man regarded them with his somber gaze, and his next move greatly surprised the two observers. He pressed his hands together, bowed respectfully forward, and spoke the language of Zero Island: ¡°Hello, I am Strange Phase Mage, Takizawa Yoshikazu.¡± The dragon worshipper who had previously launched a sneak attack was now introducing himself like a civil society member! To call such behavior courteous would be less accurate than saying he had a screw loose. Who would respond to such bizarre speech on a battlefield? Gongsun Ce raised a palm in response to the greeting: ¡°Hello, I am the Superpower User Gongsun Ce, whom you tried to ambush.¡± The masked woman nodded: ¡°I am an expert in battle, the mysterious Masked Woman.¡± But this offbeat duo did precisely that. The strange greeting was met with strange replies, the nauseating stench, the incomprehensible atmosphere, plus the three odd characters who kept their composure, turned this wastewater treatment plant into a Demon Realm that no normal person would ever want to approach. Takizawa lowered his gaze: ¡°I apologize. I am not one without manners¡­ Earlier, I aimed to kill you both without greetings. Unfortunately, the ambush also failed; it seems I misjudged.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The man spoke hesitantly, as gloomy and introverted as his appearance. Gongsun Ce internally braced himself and asked, ¡°What about now? Are you planning to surrender?¡± ¡°You are strong¡­¡± Takizawa sighed worriedly, ¡°You are too strong. I see no chance of victory, no glimmer of hope. But, but¡­ Probability does not dictate everything. For the sake of some ethereal things, one gambles everything. Ideals, dreams, wishes¡­ even if it means death¡­¡± Takizawa¡¯s voice grew lower as he closed his eyes and said, ¡°Humans are such foolish creatures.¡± The filthy shark leapt at the two but was shattered in mid-air by Gongsun Ce¡¯s telekinesis. Without a verbal cue, the masked woman rushed towards the septic tank. As she surged forward, she activated her bizarre power, causing the surrounding air to condense and harden, creating a new, ink-colored longsword intent on defeating this man once and for all. ¡°Jellyfish, hawk, mouse, dog.¡± The Takizawa emerging from the sewage then uttered a string of animal names. As the shark was smashed into four blobs of sewage that landed and transformed into four smaller creatures. The sewage jellyfish spat a barrage of water bubbles at the charging martial artist, while the hawk, mouse, and dog assaulted Gongsun Ce from three different directions. Gongsun Ce frowned and attempted a new form of attack. He once again smashed the four water beasts, isolating the sewage with cubic blocks of white material. The longsword woman, unimpeded, slashed her blade fiercely downward, the solidified air turning into a black blade edge cutting towards Takizawa in the water tank. ¡°Rhinoceros.¡± A vast amount of sewage rose from the pool, transforming into a large rhinoceros that shielded Takizawa Yoshikazu within its own body. Unlike the previous creations, this water beast had a tough skin, capable of temporarily withstanding the martial artist¡¯s slashes. ¡°Sea cucumber.¡± Another sewage beast appeared from the pool, its huge volume separating the two opponents from Takizawa. The elastic skin of the sewage sea cucumber rebounded the telekinetic missiles fired by Gongsun Ce, while Takizawa himself showed no sign of elation, mumbling as if chanting a mantra. ¡°Tiger, lion, locust, mantis. Cheetah, elephant, sea lion, gorilla.¡± The animals he named sprang out of the water tank in succession, each giving the pair the same impression as the two previously summoned. These sewage animals formed a protective barrier around Takizawa, and even when Gongsun Ce pressed down with tremendous force, they would instantly revert to their previous state. But the amount of material in the septic tank didn¡¯t decrease by much, as the sewage that still needed to be filtered was continuously flowing into the pool! ¡°Giraffe, bear, monkey, lizard, cobra octopus bat crab moth wolf boar yak fox shark crocodile hyena lynx¡ª¡± Takizawa Yoshikazu¡¯s speech became faster and faster, and the sewage animals he named arrived one after another on the battlefield. These creatures originated not only from the pool beneath him but also appeared from behind them and descended from the sky, carrying foul odors. Gongsun Ce suddenly realized the key point: this was the wastewater treatment plant for the entire urban district, and the water stored there was much more than what they saw in this pool. If Takizawa Yoshikazu had made preparations beforehand¡­ Chapter 33 - 33 20 Defeated Water Ruined Beast Part 1_2 ?33: Chapter 20 Defeated Water Ruined Beast (Part 1)_2 33: Chapter 20 Defeated Water Ruined Beast (Part 1)_2 All the sewage in the entire factory area was the material for his beast creation! They couldn¡¯t be beaten or smashed to death. A wide-range attack would stop a batch of beasts, only for new ones to surge forward. They wanted to break through and kill the Summoner himself, but Takizawa was protected in the middle by the most powerful sewage beasts. Not to mention, all the beasts charged toward the two of them as if mad, fearless of death. While fighting, they also had to protect their own safety. In just a few seconds, the battle situation had miraculously reversed. The stench of sewage filled the air everywhere, and the beasts Takizawa Yoshikazu had summoned occupied both the sky and the ground. With his power alone, he had summoned an army of beasts numbering over a thousand! ¡°Chimera.¡± Finally, the monster that spat out high-speed water was summoned again, and Takizawa¡¯s summoning came to a stop. He pressed his hands together, bowed his head, and closed his eyes, ¡°After living creatures die and turn into pollutants, within the filth there is life. Strange phase¡¤Divine Communication, foul water corrupt beast.¡± Gongsun Ce and the masked woman nearly lost their space to maneuver and had to stand back-to-back. With over a thousand corrupt beasts roaring together, it reminded Gongsun Ce of the past spectacle of the biotic animal rampage. That time, the Cecil Institute had a serious accident, and hundreds of high-risk experimental subjects broke containment and took to the streets. Looking out from any building¡¯s window, one could see the despairing scene of giant creatures destroying the streets. The strongest superpower users of the city uncommonly reached a consensus and joined hands with officials to fight a battle; otherwise, the entire city would have been destroyed amidst the roars of the beasts. Gongsun Ce thought he had already had his fill of monster movies in reality that time, but tonight¡¯s battle informed him once again just how vast the world was: back then, the biotic rampage involved just over four hundred large beasts, but tonight, just one factory district unleashed an army of over a thousand beasts. The foul odor right now felt insignificant; the sheer number of these undying corrupt beasts was an immense and troublesome puzzle! Amidst the howling of the beasts, Takizawa Yoshikazu¡¯s voice was particularly weak: ¡°This is my limit. I lack the mindset for combat, I have no experience in battle. All I can do is like now, produce some things.¡± Gongsun Ce felt a sour taste in his teeth: ¡°Have you ever considered that you might be too modest?¡± ¡°No, without the leader¡¯s command, I could only think to win by numerical advantage, that¡¯s why I came here,¡± Takizawa said intermittently, ¡°I¡¯m not as powerful as you. Even so, I have to give it my all¡­ Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I¡¯ll kill all of you.¡± A thousand corrupt beasts opened their mouths wide, and a thousand streams of water shot forth at once. In the moment the foul water corrupt beasts launched their ferocious assault, another female voice rang out. ¡°Go!¡± Gongsun Ce and the long-sword woman vanished on the spot, leaving behind a small orchid trampled into mush by the corrupt beasts. Dozens of meters away, on the rooftop of a grey building within the sewage factory district, Alice emerged with the two from the flowers, wiping the sweat from her brow: ¡°Oh my God¡­ Rushing back here from the extreme distance to teleport there, and then teleporting over here with two other people, it¡¯s not just you, I feel like throwing up too.¡± Alice crossed her arms and looked back at the two of them, who were pale: ¡°Anything you want to say to me?¡± ¡°Many thanks, many thanks.¡± ¡°Deeply grateful, deeply grateful.¡± ¡¤ ¡°Awoo~¡± The howl of the canine corrupt beasts echoed under the lightless night sky, with hundreds of hunting dogs wreaking havoc across the vast factory area, searching for traces of their enemies. The trio hid atop the building, whispering information to each other. ¡°What¡¯s the nature of these things?¡± Alice asked. ¡°Physical attacks are basically ineffective. They reassemble after being dispersed, their reformation time fluctuates between 5 to 15 seconds, depending on the size,¡± Gongsun Ce summarized, ¡°These hunting dogs have non-overlapping ranges of motion, and the corrupt beasts seem to have a method of communication among them. They¡¯re a difficult opponent to deal with.¡± ¡°What kind of madness leads to the creation of such a Divine Communication Skill¡­¡± Alice complained while dusting off her clothes. The sight of a woman with a good figure doing these movements always puts others on edge, so Gongsun Ce followed the etiquette of ¡°look away from impropriety¡± by shifting his gaze aside. The masked woman beside them shot a look of contempt, which Gongsun Ce chose to ignore as if it were an illusion and asked the Hunter, ¡°How effective are your demon-breaking arrows?¡± Alice¡¯s Demon-breaking Arrows had solidified the concepts of shooting and exorcism, and they seemed to have a powerful effect on both the Impermanence Law Enforcer and his creations. Capulo was nailed firmly to the ground, and the flesh of Tierlos would completely inactivate when hit. But the Hunter shook his head without even thinking, ¡°I have a total of twelve short arrows, and there are over a thousand mutant beasts. Do you want me to pick them off one by one until dawn?¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°There might be a possibility¡­¡± ¡°Cut it out! Why don¡¯t you just attack his main body? Can¡¯t you use telekinesis for a wide-range, high-powered strike?¡± Both Gongsun Ce and the masked woman shook their heads simultaneously, mirroring each other¡¯s movement. ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± said the masked woman. ¡°It¡¯s likely to explode.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gongsun Ce pointed to the circular sewage pool in the distance, its green patterns on the bio-flesh walls shimmering under the night sky. ¡°Remember those pools we saw earlier? The bio-flesh walls and bio-mud are also working together to break down the organic material in the sewage. One of the by-products of this process is hydrogen sulfide, which is highly flammable swamp gas. There¡¯s a massive amount of organic material in this sewage, and now the mutant beasts are spreading the gas everywhere, making them like swamp gas tanks. If the lady and I get a little too forceful and during the fight we disturb the terrain and a spark¡­ ¡± Alice retched, ¡°That¡¯s enough, shut up!¡± ¡°We could all go up with the sewage treatment plant,¡± Gongsun Ce explained helpfully, ¡°By then, half of the Fixed Wing District might as well be renamed Stink Wing District, and it won¡¯t just be a matter of smelling bad, it could very likely¡­¡± ¡°I told you to shut up!!¡± Alice slapped her partner on the back hard. ¡°It¡¯s hard to break through these numbers head-on, and attacking the main body directly carries the risk of an accident. So what do we do now; does anyone have any viable ideas?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking, I¡¯m thinking¡­¡± Gongsun Ce scanned his surroundings, attempting to draw inspiration from the environment. Trees, lawns, gray buildings, circular sewage pools, bio-flesh walls, sewage bats¡­ Gongsun Ce saw a mutant beast flying overhead, ¡°We¡¯ve been spotted.¡± Boom! The entrance to the rooftop burst apart, and a giant mantis with scythes for arms charged at the three! Alice touched the shoulders of the other two and used Shadow Orchid again to dodge the attack, emerging from the shadows only to bump into a ferocious mutant bear. The masked woman took the lead, but the army of mutant beasts was already converging from all directions. Gongsun Ce hastily used telekinesis to block them while Alice had to shift positions again, their conversation intermittently cut by the continuous movement. ¡°How to¡­ fight!¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me¡­? You¡¯re the expert!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never fought¡­ something this crazy!¡± ¡°Ah, watch out for¡­ mosquitoes.¡± ¡°Bloody hell, even mosquito mutants have shown up!?¡± ¡°So disgusting! Just¡­ charge through¡­ maximum force strike!¡± ¡°I told you, it¡¯ll explode!!!¡± The trio continuously teleported to the edge of the facility, finally finding a brief respite. Gongsun Ce pondered the current situation, feeling troubled. What worried him most was not just about cleanliness, but the potential risk to civilians. There were a lot of civilians in the Fixed Wing District, and an explosion at a large facility could endanger the nearby public. What was he to do about that? (Do you need specific advice, Gongsun?) As Gongsun Ce hesitated, a gentle voice echoed in his mind. The person speaking even paused for a few seconds in the middle, as if trying hard to suppress a laugh. Gongsun Ce shouted in his mind: (I need it, now, quick! I don¡¯t want to see millions of tons of sewage flying to the skies. If you have any good ideas, spill it, Mr. Shiyu!!) Chapter 34 - 34 21 The Defeated Water-Fiend Part 2 ?34: Chapter 21 The Defeated Water-Fiend (Part 2) 34: Chapter 21 The Defeated Water-Fiend (Part 2) In a room of the grey-white office building at the sewage treatment plant, Shiyu Lianyi was watching from the window as Gongsun Ce and his two companions argued incessantly below. Their voices had disturbed the brute beasts, and dozens of fierce beasts were slowly closing their encircling net, attempting to seize the enemy in one fell swoop at the opportune moment¡ªa sight clear to him from his high vantage point. Shiyu Lianyi covered his lips with his right hand, striving to suppress the laughter that was about to escape his mouth. Once his emotions had stabilized, he said to himself, ¡°It can hardly be called a good idea. It would be more apt to offer a different solution to the problem as an Impermanence Law Enforcer.¡± The roar of Gongsun Ce echoed in his mind, ¡°You just paused for a moment¡ªyou¡¯re definitely laughing, you bastard!¡± ¡°Haha.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even trying to hide it¡ªyou¡¯re laughing! Is blowing up sewage tanks really that funny to you, you freak?¡± Unable to hold back, Shiyu Lianyi laughed out loud in reality. He had to admit, the comedic sense when these people solemnly discussed the topic was particularly strong. Pity that the conversation would never end if it went on, so he put away his mischievous thoughts and asked Gongsun Ce: ¡°Takizawa Yoshikazu¡¯s strange phase ¡®Divine Communication¡¯ creates brute beasts with varying abilities using sewage as the material. What do you think is the best way to deal with him?¡± ¡°The crack method by force is always the best,¡± Gongsun Ce said without hesitation, ¡°One of the most practical lessons I¡¯ve learned from my senior brother is that problems that can be solved with brute force don¡¯t need brainpower. Now that the crack method by force is not viable due to concerns about explosions, hurry up and tell me your idea. Remember, quickly¡ªlest I exert too much force and blow up the whole plant, then Kardesia living in Fixed Wing District will be waking up in the dead of night to strange smells.¡± That would certainly be an unpleasant experience. Shiyu Lianyi coaxed gently, ¡°Impermanence Skill is a power that comes from the mind, and if you can understand the other party¡¯s thought process, you can also grasp the enemy¡¯s bottom line to a certain extent. The carrier of Impermanence Skill, the manifestation of its power, any possible environmental constraints, and the wishes, objectives, or thoughts revealed through them¡ªtry to understand from these aspects.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite different from our usual focus on the entity, range, and power restrictions. Let me think¡­ The carrier for the corrupted brute beast is sewage, the power is to create animals from sewage, there is no evident environmental constraint, the expression is¡­ That there¡¯s life in the sewers, too? Doesn¡¯t quite feel right.¡± Before he could elaborate, Gongsun Ce negated it himself. Shiyu Lianyi gave one last small hint; this would make his friend¡¯s cracking seem more ¡°natural¡± to others. ¡°Consider his declaration again, and I believe you¡¯ll understand, Gongsun¡­ Now, I have some things to deal with, so I will take my leave first.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be happier if you just came over and helped,¡± Gongsun replied. ¡°Oh no¡ªmy Superpower is just a mind-reading ability convenient for communication. Please don¡¯t trouble me with participating in a frontal battle.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯ve switched to the Superpower User identity?¡± Gongsun Ce mocked mentally. ¡°Everyone on the stage of life is an actor who changes masks at the right time. Let me remind you before I go¡­¡± Observing the brute beasts¡¯ forming encirclement, Shiyu Lianyi spoke just before they launched their attack, ¡°You were surrounded by eighty large brute beasts a minute ago.¡± ¡°You scheming twisted freak!!!¡± ¡°Goodnight, spectacle-wearing irascible man.¡± From downstairs came the heavy sound of something smashing into the ground, probably Gongsun Ce channeling all his anger into the poor brute beasts. Shiyu Lianyi chuckled and turned around, only to hear someone else¡¯s voice in reality. ¡°Is teasing idiots your idea of fun?¡± A man wearing a mask was leaning against the door, tall and cloaked in black. Shiyu Lianyi was somewhat surprised and bowed respectfully to him. ¡°Good evening. You arrived sooner than I expected.¡± Even through the mask, Shiyu Lianyi could imagine the man¡¯s slanted glance. ¡°You sure look like a normal person now. You finally learned something called manners, haven¡¯t you, Shiyu kid? Spit out the situation quickly, then come over and work like a mule.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That an expert as arrogantly self-assured as him was out and about with his face covered was funny¡­ As Shiyu Lianyi guessed the reason, he responded with a smile, ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡¤ Downstairs at the office building, Gongsun Ce transformed the white giant hammer in his hand into a sharp cone, smashing a porcupine-shaped brute beast into a puddle of sewage. Alice had just shot through multiple rabid dogs when a swarming mass of mosquitoes blocked her vision from all sides, making the Hunter¡¯s voice particularly irritated: ¡°Give it your all, now¡¯s not the time to worry about our surroundings! I¡¯ve already expended quite a bit of energy battling that masked man, and I can¡¯t guarantee I¡¯ll maintain a stable teleportation!¡± Gongsun Ce didn¡¯t immediately reply; he was pondering the true nature of the enemy¡¯s ability. Sewage, decay, life¡­ Shiyu Lianyi had suggested he think about the ¡°declaration¡±¡ªit would be the words Takizawa Yoshikazu uttered before activating his power¡­ ¡ªAfter life perishes and becomes filth, it is within the pollution that new life emerges. ¡°Miss Alice, what¡¯s the declaration for the Impermanence Skill?¡± ¡°Why ask this all of a sudden?¡± Alice explained instinctively, ¡°It¡¯s a technique similar to self-suggestion. Condensing the complex concept behind the construction of Impermanence Skill into a brief declaration can strengthen the impression and thereby enhance its power to some extent.¡± It sounded hopelessly idealistic, but given that the technique itself originated from the power of the mind, on reflection, it seemed reasonable. Chapter 35 - 35 21 The Defeated Water-Fiend Part 2_2 ?35: Chapter 21 The Defeated Water-Fiend (Part 2)_2 35: Chapter 21 The Defeated Water-Fiend (Part 2)_2 Necrotized filth turned into a source of vitality¡­ Did Takizawa wish for life to be reborn from decay? Then¡­ Over the distant cesspool, the green patterns of the biomechanical flesh walls were flickering with a sinister light. Gongsun Ce looked in that direction, deep in thought, ¡°¡­I¡¯ve got it.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What?¡± asked the longsword-wielding woman amidst combat. Gongsun Ce blasted away the mosquitoes in the sky with a laugh, ¡°Thought of a good way to deal with the sewage. Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll finish him within ten seconds!¡± ¡¤ ¡°Here they come, huh.¡± Takizawa Yoshikazu muttered to himself in the sedimentation pool. The mosquitoes he had previously released brought news that the enemies, who had been escaping by teleporting around, changed their tactics. Two of them were charging in his direction, while the whereabouts of another were unknown. Although Takizawa was not proficient in combat, he could guess the enemy¡¯s plan¡ªit was likely that the two vanguards would draw attention, while victory would be secured by a surprise attack from the secret weapon. ¡°Return to defense.¡± Thinking this, Takizawa signaled to the Evil Beast Army. He left only a portion of the beasts to harass the perimeter, while the rest, the elite, were called back to his vicinity, preparing for the final battle. The small beasts had conveniently gathered lighting sources earlier, which now proved useful¡ªTakizawa¡¯s surroundings within a ten-meter radius were brightly illuminated by strong light, and the weak shadows were constantly swept away by the rapid water flow, avoiding to the greatest extent the possibility of being beheaded by teleportation using Shadow Orchid. However, it was all meaningless. Takizawa was well aware that his power was merely a pileup of ¡°quantities,¡± but those mere thousand Evil Beasts meant nothing in this mad city. Tierlos should have been able to come up with better tactics, but he had gone insane; the leader could wipe out all three of them in three seconds, but he, carrying ¡°the Eye,¡± was burdened with a vital mission and could not come to help. He who commanded the Evil Beast Army was, in essence, a lone warrior fighting a solitary battle. Even if he killed the experts here, the officials of the Sky Capital would immediately erase him. But things shouldn¡¯t have been like this; intelligence should have been impossible to leak¡­ It was all because of that Hunter. Takizawa couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly; if only they hadn¡¯t encountered the tough Alice Adar, how smoothly everything would have gone! Even so, he had to fight. Even if the defeat was certain, he needed to buy time. To wear down the experts¡¯ strength as much as possible before that moment arrived¡­! Scout Evil Beasts sent signals; Alice and that Martial Artist from the Empire had breached the inner circle of the encirclement. Takizawa opened his eyes¡ªhis gaze intersected with the Hunter¡¯s in mid-air. At this moment, there was no need for further words, only to use every ounce of his power to kill the opponent! Thick-skinned Evil Beasts like elephants and rhinos charged first, while small-bodied ones like hummingbirds and spiders hid behind the meat shields, shooting water guns and foam. This time, Alice didn¡¯t use the teleportation of Shadow Orchid to dodge; instead, the masked woman lifted her with one arm and evaded the Evil Beasts¡¯ sniping with breathtaking speed. This allowed Alice the time needed to activate her Impermanence Skill; the small orchids bloomed beside the Evil Beasts, turning everything within sight into a sea of Youlan blue flowers. ¡°Youlan Sea, collective teleportation!¡± The powerful finishing move was initiated, and Youlan blue light simultaneously flashed, tearing nearly half of the Evil Beast Army apart through erroneous teleportation! Alice¡¯s face turned deadly pale as the attack seemed to have severely exhausted her strength, prompting the Hunter to teleport himself to a distance without saying another word. However, the exit of one person also brought significant returns: the space in front of the masked woman was now completely empty, and the internal defenses of the Evil Beast Army were broken. Takizawa¡¯s thoughts were highly concentrated, his nerves tenser than at any time during his experiments. The average time for the aggregation of sewage Evil Beasts was about ten seconds; if he could last these ten seconds, the Evil Beasts attacking from both inside and outside would stand a chance to kill the Martial Artist. If the Martial Artist broke through the defense within ten seconds¡­ Takizawa himself would be the one to die! ¡°Chimera, sea cucumber!¡± Two elite Evil Beasts crafted with a large amount of material charged forward. The Chimera lashed out with its serpent tail, spewing water like a gun, while the giant sea cucumber pressed down from above with elastic force, aiming to deliver a heavy blow to the Martial Artist by gravity. Yet the masked woman didn¡¯t stop for a second, dodging the coiling snake tail with a tilt of her head and with a slash of her dark-colored longsword, she severed both the water jet and the lion body of the Chimera; a casual punch upwards exploded the ten-meter-long sea cucumber Evil Beast from the inside, turning it into a pool of waste. ¡°Hidden Strike.¡± Nine seconds remained, and Takizawa paused in astonishment at this unimaginable skill, but the masked woman¡¯s assault became even faster. No Evil Beast was a match for her, and Takizawa¡¯s elite beasts were swiftly slaughtered by her within spans of 0.1 seconds. Eight seconds, seven seconds, six seconds¡­ After just a few breaths, five seconds had passed, and before Takizawa could think of a strategy, the masked Martial Artist was about to reach the pool! History books record that centuries ago, generals on the battlefield were unmatched, one-man armies beyond compare. The young Takizawa Yoshikazu ridiculed those accounts as ancient people lacking knowledge, exaggerating plain battles into mythical feats of bravery. Now, standing before a genuinely powerful Martial Artist, watching her longsword dance, carving beasts into pieces with every graceful yet severe motion, bearing an intense warfare intent that pierced straight to the brow, he realized there was not a shred of falsehood in the stories of old books. In the face of such a powerful human, a numerical advantage was nothing but a joke. A thousand-man battalion was like an empty field to her; ordinary people couldn¡¯t even react before she cut through them alone, beheading enemy generals with her ink-dark blade! Chapter 36 - 36 21 The Defeated Water-Fiend Part 2_3 ?36: Chapter 21 The Defeated Water-Fiend (Part 2)_3 36: Chapter 21 The Defeated Water-Fiend (Part 2)_3 Takizawa was unaware that the martial artist had even shown mercy, for she worried that severe destruction could trigger an explosion. Takizawa only bit his tongue to regain consciousness, yelling with a hint of fear, ¡°Tiger, lion, rhinoceros, mantis!¡± 4 seconds. One after another, the Evil Beasts fell in succession, perishing under the martial artist¡¯s ink blade before they could even attack. 3 seconds. The first defeated beasts had largely regrouped and were moments away from encircling her. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 2 seconds. The distance closed to 5 meters, with only five of the Evil Beasts left to protect Takizawa. Torn apart, slaughtered, beaten to smithereens. In the wreckage of the defeated beasts, the masked martial artist appeared, transforming her ink blade into a long spear in the final second and piercing through the body of the penultimate rhinoceros beast. Ten seconds were up! Takizawa Yoshikazu was so exhilarated that he wanted to shout triumphantly, his sweat soaking through his clothes. The external Evil Beasts regenerated, and the sewage pool where Takizawa stood birthed dozens of new beasts. Hundreds of high-pressure water streams converged on the martial artist from all directions, cornering her into a desperate situation! The Evil Beast Army, ultimately not mortal soldiers, even a one-man army under the Impermanence Skill had to face defeat. Just one second from victory, but now the tide had turned, and Takizawa Yoshikazu had won! ¡°¨D Biochemical Meat Wall!¡± Then, a sound came from above Takizawa¡¯s head. Instinctively looking up, Takizawa¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He saw that grey-haired superpower user, Gongsun Ce, holding a massive chunk of meat that descended from the sky. That colossal dome, enough to cover the entire pool, was covered in ominous green veins, with countless entwined meat roots dangling from underneath, resembling a rampaging creature from Desolate Form! The cleaning type Biochemical Meat Wall landed with a deafening crash, and the newly summoned Evil Beasts hadn¡¯t even had a chance to act before they were torn apart by the massive impact. Takizawa barely managed to leap out of the pool to avoid the onslaught; his mind a whirl of confusion. What was his opponent thinking? A physical attack? That meant nothing to the defeated beasts, for even if some were crushed, they could regenerate¡ª ¡°What?!¡± Takizawa¡¯s senses conveyed an almost despairing fact; the nearby beasts couldn¡¯t regroup¡­he couldn¡¯t even continue to summon new ones! Was it the young man¡¯s superpower? Or had someone else launched an attack? The chaos of thoughts sent shivers down Takizawa¡¯s spine as he hurriedly looked towards the martial artist, but he found the masked woman being pulled by some force, flying up to Gongsun Ce¡¯s side! ¡°Your defeated beasts, quite a formidable Divine Communication Skill. The rapidly regenerating Beast Army is tough to deal with, but once the principle is understood, the weakness becomes quite apparent,¡± Gongsun Ce provocatively tapped his temple, ¡°It¡¯s the organic matter in the water, right?¡± Just as Shiyu Lianyi had said, once you figure out the key, resolving it becomes much easier. After a creature¡¯s death, what remains is the corrupted organic material in the sewage, and the ¡°life force¡± naturally is the water that serves as the source of life. The defeated beasts were dependent on the polluted water for their new life, and none of the three present could rapidly eliminate a large amount of running water¡­ But, he had a way to eliminate a large amount of organic matter. As soon as the Biochemical Meat Wall was introduced into the sewage pool, it rapidly expanded, causing Takizawa Yoshikazu¡¯s fingertips to tremble. Having once been a researcher for an organization, he immediately realized, ¡°This is¡­ a rapidly growing mass of meat that feeds on organic material in the water?! It¡¯s absurd, how could they have researched such a thing!!¡± ¡°This thing is this facility¡¯s most core ¡®device¡¯, highly praised by manufacturers for its speed in breaking down organic material,¡± Gongsun Ce explained with a smile. Takizawa Yoshikazu trembled with rage, his researcher¡¯s instinct making him roar, ¡°How dare they?! Such an unsafe experimental organism, just thrown into production?! What if something goes wrong?! Who gave them the right!!¡± ¡°Accidents happen here all the time; everyone¡¯s used to it,¡± the masked woman said. Gongsun Ce shrugged, ¡°Compared to that, maybe you should pay more attention to your own situation.¡± With a snap of his fingers, Gongsun Ce¡¯s telekinetic storm ravaged the beasts far from the pool, hindering their regrouping process. This time it was effortless, for a complete defeated beast required an opponent to contend with, whereas a regrouping beast was just a moving puddle of water. Takizawa Yoshikazu turned deathly pale, his body rigid. Gongsun Ce kindly patted his shoulder, with just the right amount of force. ¡°General, Mr. Takizawa.¡± As Takizawa Yoshikazu fell unconscious, all the beasts reverted back into odorous puddles of sewage. Gongsun Ce opened his pocket watch to check the time. ¡°8:20 PM, giant dragon worshipper Takizawa Yoshikazu unable to continue the battle. Interrogation is up to you guys now, try to knock some information out of him.¡± Alice rushed back to the battlefield, her complexion extremely poor, ¡°I¡¯m glad to see him defeated, but hey, Gongsun Ce, that thing under your feet, isn¡¯t it getting bigger?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Gongsun Ce looked down. The meat block that should have securely covered the pool was now rapidly growing and swelling, turning into a huge mass of gray-blue flesh that increasingly lifted Gongsun Ce higher. Mr. Takizawa¡¯s anger, seen now, was quite justified because the thing indeed was not stable¡­ To be honest, in most people¡¯s eyes, a twenty-meter-tall massive chunk of meat might as well be considered an ¡®accident,¡¯ right? ¡°Tonight¡¯s battle was utterly disgusting.¡± Gongsun Ce sighed deeply, beginning to cut down the rapidly growing meat mass. The masked woman glanced at it and very regretfully said, ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite tonight¡­¡± The battle at the sewage treatment plant ended in this delicate atmosphere. Chapter 37 - 37 22 The Real Target ?37: Chapter 22 The Real Target 37: Chapter 22 The Real Target The series of battles at the sewage treatment plant had taken about an hour. Now at 8:30 in the evening, it was not suitable for middle school students and younger to be out and about alone. Gongsun Ce rarely felt exhausted, which mainly stemmed from the intense fight he had just had with the masked woman. Carrying the Biochemical Meat Wall and leaping over half the sewage treatment plant seemed troublesome but was just a matter of exerting more effort. However, engaging in a battle on par with a martial arts expert was both mentally and physically taxing. Expert fighters were much scarier than dragon lunatics. Now, Gongsun Ce¡¯s brain felt as dry as after grappling with a mountain of test papers for a day. His experience told him that if he didn¡¯t replenish his energy and rest soon, his heart would start to suffer next. And thanks to someone¡¯s ink painting, his heart was already in a pretty bad shape. Gongsun Ce pressed his brow and reached out his hand, ¡°Got an energy bar or some compressed biscuits or something?¡± An energy bar in white packaging landed in his palm. ¡°White chocolate flavor, special edition for superpower users.¡± The energy bar¡¯s packaging boasted in exaggerated artistic font, ¡°Enough to keep you fighting all day!¡± Even non-superpower users could tell this was a false advertisement. The masked woman who handed over the energy bar tore open another and began to crunch it beneath her mask. Gongsun Ce bit off a big chunk of his energy bar, ¡°Thanks. But are you really going to stick with eating like that? It¡¯s got to be all crumbs inside your mask by now.¡± ¡°Crunch, crunch. Unlike someone who got involved in the incident without even changing clothes, I think preserving one¡¯s identity is very important.¡± Gongsun Ce didn¡¯t see the point. Hiding your face, changing your clothes, altering your voice tone ¨C these tricks might have been practical a decade or so ago, but today they could hardly be considered reliable. The era when not even surveillance cameras were ubiquitous had long passed. Not to mention the potential existence of some supernatural means, relying solely on technological power, people in this city had countless ways to lock down someone¡¯s real identity. Hence, Gongsun Ce rarely concealed his own face. ¡°I¡¯ve lived here longer than you have. Getting into fights every other day, my personal information has been well grasped by all parties; there¡¯s no need to hide my identity.¡± The masked woman tilted back her head, her smooth black hair cascading down like a waterfall. ¡°The current City of Azure Skies isn¡¯t exactly a den of frequent battles.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen for yourself what it was like before order was established.¡± With that statement, Gongsun Ce concluded the conversation between the two. Tightly bound by white rope, Takizawa Yoshikazu lay on the grass, his composed facial expression a stark contrast to the grim Alice. With just one glance, Gongsun Ce could tell that the interrogation wasn¡¯t going well. ¡°I will speak,¡± Takizawa was alarmingly calm, ¡°after being questioned by an unknown expert, after my mind is pried open by a Spiritual Image Mage, or after being drugged, I will divulge all the intelligence that I know.¡± Alice¡¯s face was stern as stone, ¡°You seem very aware of your situation, not at all like an evil spellcaster.¡± ¡°I have not descended into madness. Tierlos, unfortunately, went mad from the beginning; Capro, dull and stubborn. Watching him fall further into madness was a powerless sight. Unlike them, I am fully aware of what I am doing, my actions are taken by my own will.¡± Takizawa even began to smile, ¡°I wish to summon gods, almighty gods, to bring eternity back to a broken world. For this, I am willing to pay everything, everything.¡± Alice raised a short arrow, pressing its tip against the man¡¯s throat, ¡°A man who calls the Dragon Disaster a god intends to claim he¡¯s sane? In my eyes, you¡¯re all just madmen attempting to destroy this city.¡± Takizawa Yoshikazu was neither angry nor panicked. He just silently sighed, like a person who already knew the end result, watching his own defeat from the center of the stage. ¡°You know nothing, nor do you wish to. Even if I speak the truth, you won¡¯t understand; you¡¯ll only go mad. You are a Brahma Mage, your Divine Communication won¡¯t work in interrogation. I will tell you nothing. If you wish to kill me, then go ahead, stab me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Alice Adar remained silent, and from a distance, Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t see her face but felt as though the Hunter was observing the giant dragon worshipper¡¯s expression, looking for any suspicious sign. Alice stepped back, appearing to abandon the interrogation of Takizawa, but then suddenly she threw her weapon! The demon-slaying arrow flew from her hand, heading straight for Takizawa¡¯s heart¡ª Right before it could touch the man, it stopped in mid-air. ¡°Let¡¯s not kill people, Miss Alice,¡± Gongsun Ce¡¯s voice came from behind her. ¡°¡­We can let someone as ignorant as Capro go, but not this one,¡± Alice spoke with an extra chill in her words, ¡°He¡¯s gone too far in his delusions, in the power given by the Evil Dragon. He won¡¯t pollute the city through his actions as Tierlos or Capro might, but once he starts to speak what he believes to be the truth, even our hearts could be at risk of corruption.¡± Gongsun Ce pondered for a moment, ¡°I believe he still possesses significant rationality and commonsense ¨C you should have seen how terrified he was when he first saw the Biochemical Meat Wall like a child.¡± ¡°What¡¯s common sense got to do with anything? Even I was freaked out, okay! Whoever decided to take something more disgusting than a B-grade horror movie villain and actually use it in production, there¡¯s something seriously wrong with you guys!!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 38 - 38 22 The Real Target_2 ?38: Chapter 22 The Real Target_2 38: Chapter 22 The Real Target_2 Alice¡¯s icy severity had evaporated in less than five seconds. Gongsun Ce nodded inwardly, thinking that she indeed suited this about-to-explode demeanor better. ¡°At least he didn¡¯t spout nonsense on his own, right? Our mission is complete, and what happens to him is now up to the officials of this city. Maybe before long, Mr. Takizawa will be so deeply moved by the humanitarian care of the people from the vaulted sky that he decides to fully cooperate. It¡¯s not bad to spare his life with such a thought in mind.¡± The female Hunter sighed in distress. ¡°Ah¡­ It¡¯s been almost four hours since the green comb-over was taken down, and no valuable new information has come through. The likelihood of getting any information soon¡­¡± Gongsun Ce knew what the other party was trying to say. ¡°I¡¯m not some avenger, but watching humans die before my eyes still makes me uncomfortable. You can just consider it the naive nature of a student.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re calling yourself a student again¡­ tsk tsk.¡± Alice finally put away her weapon, and Gongsun Ce knew she had abandoned the idea. Takizawa Yoshikazu sat silently on the ground, making no comment. Gongsun Ce walked up to him, bent down, and said with a smile: ¡°By the way, even if you don¡¯t say a word, we¡¯re not clueless. Your actions themselves have provided us with important leads.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Takizawa¡¯s breathing became hurried, and Gongsun Ce knew his train of thought was correct. ¡°We traced the anomaly in the water flow here, which was something you did deliberately to attract our attention. The materials that might cause the phenomena¡­ naturally, you would need a lot of wastewater. And until it reaches the wastewater treatment plant, the place where you could get your materials¡­¡± Gongsun Ce adjusted his glasses and speculated, ¡°Of course, that would be the sewers! It seems you¡¯ve spent quite some time in the sewer system of this city. The flow of the sewage is enough for you to map out the city¡¯s terrain, which includes not just the distribution of facilities on the surface but also the general situation of the city¡¯s underground.¡± The pallid complexion on Takizawa¡¯s face confirmed his conjecture, and Gongsun Ce happily snapped his fingers. ¡°But there are many major cities in the world with populations exceeding a million, and I don¡¯t see why you¡¯d have to target the Vaulted Sky specifically. Unless some condition in your plan could only be met here, such as¡­ the city itself?¡± Gongsun Ce shook his finger, smiling, ¡°I get it, I understand. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Takizawa. Though you¡¯ve been silent, your microexpressions have betrayed you.¡± Upon hearing this, Takizawa immediately struggled and yelled at Gongsun Ce, ¡°The giant dragon phenomenon is¡ª¡± The masked woman beside him struck like lightning before Takizawa could finish speaking, silencing him with a chop to the neck. The pitiful scene caused cold sweat to break out on Gongsun Ce¡¯s forehead. The masked woman withdrew her hand, ¡°You see, that was the Holy +10 hand chop that saved you from peril.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re not even bothering to come up with a proper name!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a basic attack, not even worth being called a technique. The interim boss said nothing and disappeared, so I¡¯ll take this guy into custody for official interrogation. Is that okay with you?¡± Alice¡¯s face looked painfully sour, ¡°That guy ran off out of the blue, and now you¡¯re asking me¡­? Is this how the Yiji Hall deals with things?¡± ¡°Who knows? Unfortunately, I¡¯m also a temp.¡± To think you have the nerve to call yourself an expert. Gongsun Ce mocked the person¡¯s earlier attitude to himself as he glanced at Alice¡¯s expression. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was convinced that this sentence had finally made the diligent Hunter explode. ¡°What on earth is the Yong Guang Empire thinking?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not very clear on that. Normally, it wouldn¡¯t turn out this way, but I hope you won¡¯t hold a bias against the Empire because of tonight¡¯s encounter. And then, that Superpower User over there¡­¡± As if implying something, the masked girl looked straight at him, ¡°We just gave you a piece of advice.¡± The girl¡¯s tone of voice wasn¡¯t any different from before, and there were no notable precursors to her actions. Even the always vigilant Hunter didn¡¯t give a warning, which meant she probably hadn¡¯t noticed either. However, Gongsun Ce had a clear premonition in his heart. Just as classmates who had spent a long time together could guess what the other would say next, just as close friends could predict each other¡¯s actions, the feeling in his heart told him the truth: here and now, the masked girl was ready for combat. Not the type of Superpowers combat where they held back, but a no-nonsense, all-out battle. Gongsun Ce remained composed, ¡°I gave you a response just now too. I will continue to investigate with Miss Alice¡­ I¡¯m not backing out.¡± With that, the sense of urgency for the impending combat dissipated. The masked girl, dragging the unconscious Takizawa, took a few steps and turned back to say, ¡°Remember, you owe me a dessert.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± The temporary worker of the Empire left. Alice Adar watched her back and placed a hand on Gongsun Ce¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Gongsun Ce, that child really is¡­¡± ¡°Who knows. I don¡¯t pry into matters that don¡¯t concern me.¡± ¡°So what is the goal of these Dragon fanatics?¡± ¡°What lies beneath the Vaulted Sky City?¡± Gongsun Ce countered, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s the corpse of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky.¡± Takizawa Yoshikazu remained unconscious, unable to hear these words. This man, who had once been a researcher, was only thinking that he must do everything in his power to stop them, to not let them interfere with the leader¡¯s plans. This thought still hovered in his mind even while he was out cold, causing Takizawa¡¯s face to contort in agony. How long had passed before the man finally regained consciousness? Takizawa realized he was in the middle of a room devoid of decorations, firmly secured to a chair, completely unable to move. What puzzled him was that his mouth wasn¡¯t sealed shut. This meant that those who had imprisoned him here were not afraid of what he could say. Takizawa guessed they might intend to use some sort of soundproofing equipment to communicate with him while ensuring their safety. Before Takizawa could think further, the door straight ahead of him opened. A handsome young man in a suit walked into the room. ¡°Takizawa Yoshikazu, a strange phase Mage of Divine Communication Realm from Zero Island, transformed into a giant dragon worshipper during the Colored Glaze Disaster in Supibia, contamination source speculated to be the Colored Glaze Disaster. Actively operating under the guise of a freelance researcher assisting official institutions, he was employed earlier at the Shiyu Research Institute. In that institution filled with geniuses and eccentrics, he was just an ordinary researcher, which led him to develop a gloomy and negative personality¡­¡± Takizawa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he found himself unable to speak. The young man entering the room held a file, recounting the life of a human named Takizawa Yoshikazu, but all of this could no longer reach his ears. Because he recognized the face of the young man in the suit, he knew who was speaking to him. ¡°You, you are¡­!¡± The young man in the suit put away the file and revealed a smile to Takizawa. ¡°I am Shiyu Lianyi. Long time no see, Mr. Takizawa.¡± Chapter 39 - 39 23 Interrogation from the Past ?39: Chapter 23: Interrogation from the Past 39: Chapter 23: Interrogation from the Past Shiyu Lianyi. The name of the young man in the suit was not only his human name but also evidence of his creation by a certain institution. Those slightly experienced in the Impermanence Skill clearly understood what the surname Shiyu represented. For Takizawa Yoshikazu, that name carried a significance unlike any other associated with Shiyu. Shiyu Lianyi was one of the Impermanence Mages cultivated during the initial stage of the Shiyu Research Institute. Back then, Takizawa had never personally encountered a giant dragon; he had only glimpsed the power of dragons through few phrases in ancient scrolls and some preserved materials. Once merely an exceptional student, his interest had led him to begin in-depth research, and during one search for materials, he unexpectedly discovered a technique known as the Impermanence Skill in a manuscript preserved by his ancestors. Thus, Takizawa ventured bit by bit into unknown territories, which eventually drew the attention of the officials from Zero Island. After graduating from university, Takizawa officially became a government official. Armed with an investigative mind and professional competence, and admitting to himself a lack of combat talent, he was transferred to the then newly established institution for the study of Impermanence¡ªShiyu Research Institute. Looking back now, that was the beginning of everything. Within the Shiyu Research Institute, bustling with geniuses and eccentrics, Takizawa Yoshikazu was just a nondescript backdrop. Once proud of his talent, he was overwhelmed in the presence of stronger and more numerous talents. His personality grew gloomier, his confidence turning into self-doubt, and even his speech became stuttered. Fortunately, his life was not entirely hopeless; most members bore no ill will toward their peculiar-speaking colleague. They all focused their attentions on pursuits worthy of wholehearted dedication. Developing the Impermanence Skill to meet the needs of the new age, cultivating unique geniuses, and showcasing the power of Zero Island¡­ There were many such slogans, which Takizawa no longer clearly remembered. He only recalled that everyone was striving for goals that were worth proclaiming proudly. Under some deliberate guidance, the talented young individuals were invigorated, pouring their sweat and youth into making significant achievements. In this process, they neglected some things that should have received their attention. Things that, before sprinting toward great achievements, should be firmly remembered by all humans. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By the time Takizawa realized, it was already too late. They had personally created one of the worst calamities of the Shiyu Research Institute. That is, the person now standing before him. ¡°Ah¡­ you¡¯re still¡­ alive¡­¡± Takizawa¡¯s lips trembled uncontrollably. In contrast to his immense fear, Shiyu Lianyi was remarkably calm. ¡°Yes, I am still alive. I¡¯ve been through a lot since leaving the institute, and now my life isn¡¯t bad.¡± Takizawa Yoshikazu struggled violently, desperately trying to bend his body forward, but he was unable to move due to the sturdy restraints. The long-haired man on the chair repeated his futile struggles, spewing out fragmented pleas, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ Please¡­! Don¡¯t curse me!!¡± Shiyu Lianyi soothed him gently, ¡°I am not here for revenge; I just want to ask you two questions. I won¡¯t probe about the details of the plan, and in turn, I hope you can tell me your honest thoughts. Is that okay, Mr. Takizawa?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ You¡­ really¡­¡± ¡°Please be assured, I¡¯m no longer a child.¡± What Shiyu Lianyi left unsaid was, just as you are no longer that young man who often laughed nervously when alone. His words seemed like a lifesaver to Takizawa. This man was not afraid of death, nor did he fear interrogation. Takizawa held in his heart goals much grander than before and believed in a supreme God, firmly convinced that everything he had done was worthwhile. But now, the dragon¡¯s aura that protected his spirit was shattered by the fear instilled in him. Because Takizawa had once witnessed the horrific states of his colleagues, seen their unbearable death throes. The thought of facing such a painful death himself caused his once sturdy mental defenses to crumble like a thatched hut. Takizawa could not be certain that the other party¡¯s words were indeed true. His only option now was to believe; only by believing in this person could he temporarily escape his fear, even if it only allowed him minutes of normal breathing. Shiyu Lianyi stood against the wall, his right hand clad in white gloves, raising a slender index finger. ¡°The first question. In the recent battle, from the perspective of a former researcher rather than a dragon worshipper, did you notice anything noteworthy? Alternatively, you can share your opinions on those four individuals.¡± Takizawa, as if obeying a command, searched through his memory. He replied intermittently, ¡°Something noteworthy, those four people¡­ the girl wearing a mask seems to be a Superpower User, with a limited range of ability, but her close combat skills are terrifying. The Country¡¯s Hunter is a genius of the Impermanence Skill, she has developed multiple applications of her abilities, but when I observed, her combat skills were a far cry from the practice of Impermanence.¡± This statement seemed to pique Shiyu Lianyi¡¯s interest. ¡°Her skills and abilities are mismatched?¡± ¡°Rather, it is a difference in combat style. From what I remember, most Hunters are converts, considering the Impermanence Skill as one of many tools to be used, balancing it with martial arts, guns, and Heart Phase Weapons in their strategy. But that Hunter, she centered her combat on the Impermanence Skill, using archery and martial arts merely as supplements. This way of thinking is more typical of traditional academies, or perhaps¡­¡± Takizawa Yoshikazu racked his brains, trying to come up with a second fitting example, but under immense mental pressure, his mind blanked, unable to voice the word that was on the tip of his tongue. ¡°I understand. Please continue, Mr. Takizawa.¡± Takizawa relaxed and proceeded with his recollection. ¡°The man wearing a mask, his Impermanence Skill¡­ I do not understand. Lastly, that Superpower User.¡± ¡°What do you think about the Superpower User named Gongsun Ce?¡± Takizawa noticed that Shiyu Lianyi smiled. This meant he had finally touched upon a topic of interest to him. ¡°He is very strange.¡± As a rationale researcher, not a Mage focused on summoning gods, Takizawa thus declared. ¡°Too strange. What in the world was that? There was no time to think things through during the battle, and looking back now, I can¡¯t come up with any reasonable explanation.¡± ¡°What are you referring to?¡± Takizawa rarely became agitated, ¡°It¡¯s his superpower! How can intangible forces and white matter be abilities of the same person! A superpower user only has one superpower, that¡¯s common knowledge to everyone. After my encounter with God, I have understood a deeper truth, and even using the theories you know, this phenomenon can be explained.¡± ¡°Yes, please continue.¡± ¡°It¡¯s known that a superpower user can display a variety of combat manifestations. There exists such an example from a few years ago, still very active¡­ I remember being called¡­¡± The tension brought a blank into his mind, and Shiyu Lianyi kindly prompted him, ¡°The world¡¯s number one superpower user?¡± Takizawa nodded repeatedly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him. In retrospect, what he did was also to develop different uses for his abilities, just like the Hunters of the Country, transferring themselves, transferring weapons, incomplete transfers, but the core is the same. However, this interpretation clearly doesn¡¯t apply to Gongsun Ce¡¯s performance. The intangible force, often referred to as Telekinesis, no matter how it changes, won¡¯t alter its most fundamental nature. The intangible force might become colorful and transparent, but it couldn¡¯t become tangible matter.¡± The former researcher came to a final conclusion, ¡°That performance, it¡¯s almost as if, a person has two abilities, how is that possible¡­ theoretically¡­¡± ¡°From a researcher¡¯s viewpoint, that¡¯s how it is, thank you for your cooperation. Now onto the second question, and after this one, I will leave.¡± Shiyu Lianyi walked away from the wall, taking steps toward him. Takizawa who had intended to deliver a long discourse immediately stopped speaking. He heard the young man in the suit say, ¡°The last research project undertaken by Shiyu Research Institute before its destruction, do you have any knowledge of it?¡± ¡°I, I don¡¯t know!¡± Takizawa denied in terror, ¡°I fled the institute after the incident you caused. I regretted, I repented, I was afraid! My conscience was unsettled, and I never had any involvement with them ever again, never! I really don¡¯t know, please¡­!¡± Shiyu Lianyi bent down, looking into his eyes. ¡°Let me tell you.¡± His next words made Takizawa forget to breathe. ¡°The last research conducted by Shiyu Research Institute before its downfall was to enable humans to inhabit the bodies of the Evil Dragon, letting sentient beings fill the empty husks without hearts¡­ To achieve immortality.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡­Ah?¡± The sound that he emitted after a long stun was one of refusing to accept reality. Unbelievable, unbearable, unthinkable, crazier than a joke, do you know what you¡¯re saying, stop joking, just kill me if you will, why say such absurd lies, this is, this is¡­ And then, shock crossed over fear, turning into fury. ¡°How dare they blaspheme God, are they insane!!! Deserved, well deserved!!! That¡¯s why the institute fell, it¡¯s divine punishment!!!¡± Shiyu Lianyi patiently waited until the man had exhausted his anger through his words, letting fear once again dominate the heavier side of the scale. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°You knew nothing¡­ That¡¯s a good thing. My inquiry is finished, thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Takizawa. Wait a moment while I finish processing, and we won¡¯t meet again.¡± Shiyu Lianyi placed his hand on his head, smiling, ¡°The price is a minute of pain.¡± Takizawa began to tremble violently, he knew what was about to happen. Before death could reach him, the former researcher cried out his last words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­!¡± ¡°The return is a loss of five minutes of memory.¡± ¡°¡ª¡ª¡± Takizawa incredulously looked up, seeing Shiyu Lianyi smiling mischievously, as if he had successfully played a prank. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you, Mr. Takizawa. When you were a child, you even gave me candy.¡± Shiyu Lianyi walked out of the room with his back to him. Takizawa felt his memory becoming blurred in his mind; he couldn¡¯t remember who he had just been talking to, nor what was said. What was the cause, a fragment of memory surfaced in Takizawa¡¯s mind. It was a long time ago when he was still at Shiyu Research Institute. Occasionally, just occasionally. The unsuccessful researcher, passing the dingy, dark room, would throw a low-quality candy inside. He watched the young children sucking on the candy, laughing neurotically as if watching animals feed. ¡°Thank you¡­ thank you¡­¡± But whom to thank, why to thank, he also could no longer remember. Chapter 40 - 40 24 Thorns ?40: Chapter 24 Thorns 40: Chapter 24 Thorns Shiyu Lianyi stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him. A tall man wearing a mask was waiting for him outside. The masked man spoke in a bizarre tone, ¡°You¡¯re really gentle, young Shiyu.¡± Without responding to this comment, Shiyu Lianyi simply stated the results of his work. ¡°After deleting their memories and posing similar questions multiple times, the responses received and the values detected by the machine were nearly identical. Assuming no Impermanence Law Enforcer stronger than me has exerted influence, it is safe to say they are completely in the dark about this.¡± With the casualness of everyday chitchat, Shiyu Lianyi stated a fact chilling enough to send cold shivers down one¡¯s spine in an unchanged tone. The conversation that just took place between the two of them in the room was not the first time it had happened. Takizawa Yoshikazu¡¯s fear, anger, grief, and repentance had all been repeated several times. The task was simple. After asking questions, erase the other person¡¯s memory. Then walk into the room as though it¡¯s the first meeting. Alter the way questions were asked, observe the responses, and collect a new set of data to cross-reference and confirm the words just spoken. To ensure truthfulness, to prevent the other party from guessing intentions and concocting lies over long interrogations, to avoid having them break down under too much pressure, the cycle repeated. Takizawa Yoshikazu was completely unaware of this; each of his performances was genuine. However, even if the subject himself had no subjective awareness, to an observer, the sentiment triggered by the same act repeated over and over would eventually fade, wouldn¡¯t it? Witnessing actions mechanically replayed in reality, whether one saw the person as unknowing or as a puppet manipulated by invisible strings¡­ contemplating in either direction, the conclusion would be far from pleasing. ¡°Forget it, a Creator Realm Mage wouldn¡¯t bother with trifles on some small fry. That makes things simple!¡± Fortunately, the masked man never cared for such minutiae. The views and thoughts of others never mattered to him; spending time pondering what snack to eat late at night was far more meaningful than considering those matters. Shiyu Lianyi pondered for a moment, then asked, ¡°About Gongsun¡¯s capabilities¡­¡± Before he could finish, the masked man interrupted with a sneer, ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me? If you want to know, ask him yourself. Let¡¯s go, ready to settle this tonight.¡± The masked man strode off, with Shiyu Lianyi smiling wryly as he followed. ¡°Do you plan to decide the outcome tonight?¡± ¡°Today, tonight, I want to finish this early so I can go back to sleep.¡± ¡°You sound very tired.¡± ¡°No shit. Two big tasks crammed into one day, forced me to take an unplanned trip to the skies to chat with the Emperor first thing in the morning. Just traveling back and forth took half the damn day, didn¡¯t even get a nap! What a world.¡± The masked man cursed as he walked away, with Shiyu Lianyi following behind, his complaints becoming white noise. They stepped outside, where a girl in a mask was waiting for the two. She extended her arms and balanced herself on the tip of one foot while hopping around the edge of the flowerbed. Seeing Shiyu Lianyi, she asked, ¡°Is Mr. Shiyu also here to work?¡± ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s in the mood to pay me a salary. Extracurricular practice would be a more appropriate term, I suppose.¡± ¡°I should get something, though. By the way, how is my hourly rate calculated?¡± The masked man yelled in irritation, ¡°You talk back to the boss, kick the boss in the back, can¡¯t handle even an idiot when you go rogue, and you still have the nerve to ask for a salary?! Get lost!¡± ¡°That¡¯s harsh.¡± Shiyu Lianyi looked at the mask and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, recalling her usual antics. ¡¤ 8:35 p.m., outside the sewage treatment plant. ¡°Is this what you call the utmost help? Your stubbornness would shame the cross emblazoned upon your chest!¡± Alice Adar¡¯s Universal Language pronunciation was even more standard than that of an average capital citizen of the Country, with no hint of slang or colloquial speech. Unfortunately, no matter how elegant her intonation was, it couldn¡¯t hide the speaker¡¯s own fury. At this moment, Miss Alice looked like she was about to explode. Gongsun Ce understood her feelings all too well, the Country¡¯s officers were such a group of bureaucrats who lost sense of the situation. Once he deduced that the dragon zealots¡¯ target was underground, Alice immediately reported to the officials and requested intelligence support. Judging by her current expression, official support would likely not be substantial. ¡°It looks bad.¡± Alice hung up the phone and spoke through gritted teeth, ¡°Insufficient authority, need to consult superiors, inform us of the decision after discussion¡­ At a time like this, those esteemed gentlemen can still utter such words!¡± Gongsun Ce covered his face and sighed, ¡°Country situational comedies really do draw from reality¡­¡± ¡°Bureaucrats are all the same no matter which Country you¡¯re in,¡± Alice said anxiously. ¡°In the end, they just told me if ¡®we inadvertently enter certain areas due to force majeure,¡¯ the Country would ¡®trust the frontline staff¡¯s judgment, and to prevent the unpredictable accidents that could arise from third-party interference, we would temporarily not deploy rescue.¡± Gongsun Ce waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°Understood, it means we¡¯ll turn a blind eye if we manage to get down there ourselves, no official support whatsoever.¡± Alice shook her unfortunate subordinate vigorously, ¡°Is now the time for such cool-headed remarks?! Who knows what those dragon-crazed leaders are up to, deep underground!¡± Mr. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gongsun entirely understands your anxious feelings. But at least don¡¯t treat the harmless Superpower User like this; his glasses are about to fall off from your shaking. Gongsun Ce emphasized each word, ¡°You, wait, don¡¯t, panic.¡± It seemed Alice finally realized her loss of composure and quickly released her grip. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡­¡± ¡°I get it, I understand. I¡¯m considering even far-fetched possibilities like ¡®what if the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky resurrects,¡¯ but worrying now won¡¯t help,¡± Gongsun Ce patted her shoulder and said earnestly, ¡°I¡¯ll call Mo Yuankai to see if he has any underground intel. If he doesn¡¯t have any, we¡¯ll shamelessly seek out the previous Empire experts for cooperation. How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Alice nodded subconsciously, then with a hint of suspicion said, ¡°How could you suddenly become¡­ so calm?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re not fighting alone,¡± Gongsun Ce scratched his head, ¡°Although those two masked guys look unreliable, they must be strong¡­ Even if we fail, they¡¯ll step in, and that thought brings me peace of mind.¡± This wasn¡¯t a lie. Alice pursed her lips, ¡°You really trust the officials, huh¡­¡± ¡°The Giant Dragon Summoning Skill being used by the officials as a strategic deterrent is still better than letting maniacs hold on to it.¡± Gongsun Ce laughed and dialed the informant¡¯s number. ¡°Hey, Ah Kai. I defeated Takizawa Yoshikazu, and I deduce their leaders have gone underground. Do you know of any way to get there?¡± Mo Yuankai crunched chips on the other end of the phone: ¡°Underground?¡± ¡°The belly of the dragon,¡± Gongsun Ce succinctly stated. ¡°Oh. I know,¡± Mo Yuankai¡¯s voice gave him certainty, but the informant¡¯s next sentence almost made him stumble, ¡°Isn¡¯t it right next to your place?¡± ¡°Hey, are you serious? I¡¯ve lived in the Thorn District for so many years and it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a passage to the underground near my home.¡± The informant laughed, ¡°Ah Ce, you can be quite oblivious. Have you ever thought about what those white towers known as thorn actually are?¡± Gongsun Ce was momentarily at a loss for words, ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t they the spines on the back of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky?¡± Chapter 41 - 41 25 Deep Underground ?41: Chapter 25: Deep Underground 41: Chapter 25: Deep Underground 9:00 AM, Thorn District, Marin Benbu Park. This park, built a few years ago, was located near the residential area where Gongsun Ce lived, named after the donor, Marin Benbu. The interior of the park was lush with greenery, with spring flowers becoming even more vivid against the backdrop of green leaves, and the fresh air refreshed the two who had just come out from the sewage plant area. At the center of the park stood a towering white spire, one of the several hundred ¡°thorns¡± of the Thorn District. The base of the white tower was extremely thick, which made Alice think of the branches of century-old trees, though even the ancient trees in her memory seemed delicate compared to the giant before her. Alice couldn¡¯t see what use such a ¡°thorn¡± could have, but she recalled the conversation between Gongsun Ce and Mo Yuankai more than ten minutes ago and started to believe the theory proposed by the information dealer. ¡ª ¡°Thorns? Officially, they¡¯re called thorns, but why would the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky have thorns on its back? Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Let me share an unconventional theory with you. These so-called thorns are actually the flying auxiliary organs of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky.¡± ¡ª ¡°It uses these to fly?!¡± ¡ª ¡°Just like large robots have numerous ports for easier maneuvering, the white towers of the Thorn District are probably a means for it to adjust its flight posture. Because these are hollow, they directly connect to the dragon¡¯s belly.¡± Initially, Alice hadn¡¯t found this to be particularly astonishing, but now, witnessing the gargantuan structure with her own eyes, her thoughts became uncontrollably vibrant. She envisioned the scenario from the past, imagining a gray-blue giant dragon flapping its wings, expelling streams of air, energy, or smoke from its back. Its mountainous body turned agilely, allowing it to soar freely above the sky. From its eyes, it could almost see the entire world, seeing the mountains and rivers to their farthest ends in a glance. However, the creatures on the ground couldn¡¯t even notice the giant creature¡¯s flight due to their vast difference; they could only see the shadows that blocked the sun, unable to comprehend the dragon¡¯s movement. Perhaps that was why it was named after the vaulted sky because, to humans, the dragon was like another sky. ¡°Miss Alice?¡± The Superpower User by her side spoke up, and Alice, lost in her thoughts, replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ I was just thinking about how powerful the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky must have been¡­ What a magnificent life it must have been.¡± ¡°However magnificent, it¡¯s dead now. Killed by the Empire, its body used to build the city for us ants to live in.¡± The light-hearted voice of Gongsun Ce brought her back to reality. The gray-haired Superpower User was squatting at the base of the thorn, manipulating a small gray box, which was the tool to open the thorn¡¯s passage. When the park¡¯s caretaker handed it over to them, his hands trembled, saying this was an irregular operation and not according to regulations, but this was an exceptional case so go down quietly and try not to cause too much commotion. From this, Alice knew that their ability to go down was not due to official leniency but because Mo Yuankai¡¯s arrangements had taken effect. This information dealer not only planned the shortest route back to the Thorn District but also the way to the dragon¡¯s belly, his extensive capabilities making her seriously doubt his real identity. Could he also be an official person? Or perhaps he achieved all this through his superpower? ¡°If great size equates to magnificence, sumo wrestlers should be far mightier than us.¡± Gongsun Ce continued to chatter nonsensibly, to which Alice rolled her eyes and said, ¡°Can¡¯t you have a bit of the romance and fantasy that young people should have?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s best that the dragon is dead. Honestly, I wish they were smaller so that when we kill them, we wouldn¡¯t have to hack as much.¡± After adjusting, Gongsun Ce slapped the small gray box on the surface of the thorn, ¡°Done.¡± At that moment, man-made traces appeared on the smooth, seamless surface of the thorn¡¯s base, and a perfectly square ¡°door¡± opened from the inside, revealing the spacious interior of the giant tower. ¡°This is¡­!¡± Alice exclaimed in surprise, seeing too many things today that she previously knew nothing about. A steel circular platform replaced what should have been ¡°the ground,¡± with a ring of alloy brackets protruding from the platform¡¯s sides, appearing to be supporting fixtures. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me, I¡¯ve been here for ten years and this is the first time I knew that thorns are hollow.¡± Gongsun Ce stepped onto the platform first, ¡°Who knows where we¡¯ll end up¡­ Get ready, Miss Alice, we¡¯re about to embark.¡± Alice quickly jumped next to him. After a brief darkness, the platform they stood on lit with a dim glow. They both felt the sensation of weightlessness as the elevator descended rapidly, its speed so fast it felt like falling from the top of a skyscraper! ¡°This place never¡ª¡ªhisss!¡± Alice¡¯s words were cut off by her own gasp as the rapidly descending platform made a large curve, and the white walls of the tower seemed about to hit her head. ¡°You¡¯re distracted.¡± Gongsun Ce used telekinesis to pull his partner aside just as the tower wall nearly brushed her hair. ¡°Sorry, I was just very surprised.¡± Alice¡¯s feelings were mixed. Now, rather than riding an elevator, it was more like they were sliding along a sloping track using the platform as a surfboard. Whether it was the psychological pressure of the confined space or not, Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t help feeling that the track was tilting even more. If this continued, it was likely that the path inside the giant tower would eventually shift from a downward direction to almost horizontal, and if that were the case¡­ ¡°Are we heading¡­ to the central region?¡± Alice voiced his thoughts. ¡°I think so. If the core of the giant dragon is located in the very center of its body¡ªat the junction between the Central and Thorn Districts¡ªthen we¡¯re undoubtedly heading to the most crucial area.¡± Gongsun Ce looked at his companion from the corner of his eye, seeing both urgency and unease in her eyes, but also curiosity and delight at heading into an unknown environment. Had it been experts from other powers, they probably wouldn¡¯t have shown such a demeanor, right? After all, being a Hunter and an Impermanence Law Enforcer was somewhat akin to working for the officials, making them appear less ¡°professional.¡± Gongsun Ce chuckled inwardly and said aloud, ¡°Miss Alice seems very happy about going underground.¡± The Hunter seemed a bit embarrassed, ¡°Did it show that much, big sis?¡± ¡°Your eyes are shining.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an exaggeration!¡± ¡°Clearly, the Hunter acts more like an adventurer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, is it? Who wouldn¡¯t be curious about what¡¯s inside a giant dragon or what lies beneath flying cities? While worrying about not catching up with the dragon fanatics, the thrill of this unexpected adventure excites me too¡ªsuch is the contradictory nature of humans.¡± That¡¯s hard to say. In traditional culture, a giant dragon was a symbol of disaster. For most, the inside of a dragon would be more dreadful than hell itself. Those who found curiosity in such a place were incredibly bold, and those who were happy about it were truly thinking outside the box. But considering Alice had fantasized about the joy of flying with a dragon, it was hard to understand her using normal reasoning. Gongsun Ce pushed his glasses up, ¡°With your curiosity, perhaps you¡¯d be better suited as a researcher than a Hunter.¡± Alice shook her head in disgust, ¡°No way, I hate those inhumane researchers the most.¡± How could you equate all scientists with being inhumane? Not everyone in a white lab coat is like the ones at our city¡¯s university. At that moment, the descent track had crossed the 45¡ã threshold. The platform slowing their descent emitted a flashing light as a signal and began to slow down. The corridors on either side thinned, no longer as visibly robust as those they¡¯d seen when they first started their descent. Gongsun Ce guessed this might symbolize that they were nearing the bottom. The trajectory subtly shifted to a horizontal path, and after a burst of speed, they arrived at a structure resembling a train platform. The platform had completely stopped working, and as Gongsun Ce and Alice stepped onto the platform, they found the path forward blocked by heavy steel doors, like those of a vault. ¡°Miss Alice, can Shadow Orchid teleport to places you can¡¯t see?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t sense any shadows behind the door; can you create a white barrier behind it?¡± No shadows¡­ is there a strong light source behind the door? Gongsun Ce wondered as he summoned his power. ¡°Just a moment.¡± Gongsun Ce pictured in his mind, imagining a dome of white material like a snow shelter appearing on the other side of the door, which he couldn¡¯t see. Visual obstruction was a greater challenge than physical distance, but fortunately, Gongsun Ce was experienced, and this little trick was easy for him. ¡°About 6.5 meters ahead of me, there should be a circular shadow cast by the white dome.¡± ¡°Good, keep quiet¡­¡± Alice placed her hand on his shoulder, ¡°Shadow Orchid.¡± With the inherent stifling sensation of teleportation, they arrived on the other side of the door simultaneously. Gongsun Ce removed the white barrier and immediately understood why there had been no shadow behind the door. What met their eyes was a vast green sea. A transparent, unknown material formed a path like an underwater tunnel, with massive amounts of green liquid flowing around it. The green was vibrant and lively, reminiscent of fireflies gathering on a midsummer night, or corals dissolving in the ocean, bringing a palpable sense of life as if countless tiny lives were converging into a sea that danced before their eyes! Vaguely, they could see large tree-root-like substances within this sea of green life. Those gnarled roots seemed to extend from the pipes outside, their shapes reminiscent of blood vessels, nerves, or perhaps other, more complex, internal structures of organisms. These structures, larger than buildings, swayed under the wash of green, splitting and melting, like tsunamis in the clouds or avalanches in the sea. They were momentarily rendered speechless, awestruck by the scene before them, even forgetting their purpose for a moment. A second later, Gongsun Ce remembered to move forward, but his common sense raised another question, even more worth considering than the scenery. ¡°Hey, Gongsun Ce,¡± Alice¡¯s voice trembled slightly, ¡°don¡¯t you think this color¡­ looks familiar?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Gongsun Ce instinctively denied the ridiculous suggestion, even though he knew the Hunter could see through his lie. Alice ignored his comment and continued with her own speculation, ¡°This color, it¡¯s exactly like¡­ the green patterns on biotech animals!¡± The bodies of horses, beaks of pigeons, sides of fleshy walls¡­ all possessed this inexplicable green pattern produced by the biotech of the Vaulted Sky. Past life details flashed through his mind, and Gongsun Ce suddenly remembered past discussions with friends about why the Vaulted Sky, with the world¡¯s top scientists, didn¡¯t focus on material or AI technology, but instead spent time and effort on this strange biotechnology, producing nothing but giant pigeons and decaying flesh. Now, recalling his past disdain for official decisions, he found it hilariously absurd. When the flesh of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky was within reach, what reason would they have not to pursue biotechnology? Chapter 42 - 42 26 The Big Shots ?42: Chapter 26 The Big Shots 42: Chapter 26 The Big Shots Gongsun Ce and Alice, immersed in the belly of the giant dragon, witnessed the rushing green sea, shivering from the truth about the biochemical experiment. Meanwhile, at the same time, at Dragon Head at the other end of the Sky City, authoritative figures of high position and power were also discussing the current event¡­ At 9:05 p.m., Cangshou District, Dragon Head International Integrated Office Building, on the 66th floor. In the area that was once the head of a giant dragon stood a building with extensive grounds, a blue edifice that publicly served as the administrative organ of Sky City, managed by special appointees from countries around the world. However, local students preferred to call it the ¡°Three Kingdoms¡¯ Giant Dragon Branch Office,¡± or simply ¡°Government Building.¡± Regardless of the name, this structure, built not in the city center but in the remote head of the dragon, did not change in its significance as the center of the city¡¯s power. Ding-dong! Floor 66 lit up, and the elevator doors opened with a chime, with polished leather shoes stepping onto the plush carpet. The receptionist facing the elevator doors greeted with a perfect receptionist¡¯s smile: ¡°Good evening, Principal Onowell. May I ask¡­¡± The man who emerged from the elevator was bald with light golden stubble. He had piercing blue eyes, wore a suit, stood straight, and had the refined demeanor uniquely characteristic of a cultured middle-aged man. However, the obvious anxiety on his face ruined his poise, and even his gentle words seemed rushed. ¡°Good evening, madam. Please forgive my impoliteness for visiting without an appointment, but I have urgent business that requires a discussion with Director Liu Zhongwu.¡± The Empire¡¯s receptionist bowed respectfully to consult someone inside and then replied, ¡°The Director welcomes you at any time. Principal, please follow me.¡± The two proceeded down the silent corridor on the 66th floor, with views on the empire¡¯s bureaucrats bending over their paperwork in the offices lining the route. As they walked deeper, the sound of someone speaking grew. ¡°Everyone¡¯s got to work hard tonight¡­ Stop direct energy supply throughout the city¡­ Confirm again¡­ Ensure at least a two-hour reserve energy supply¡­ Confirm details with those from the Kingdom¡­ His Majesty is watching us from the sky¡­¡± Principal Onowell picked up his pace, glaring intently at the door at the other end of the hallway, his elegant beard trembling slightly. The receptionist led him to the meeting room door, relieved to have managed to scurry ahead of the striding man to knock. ¡°Director Liu, sorry to interrupt, Principal Onowell is here.¡± ¡°Please come in, please come in quickly.¡± The door of the meeting room swung inward, and the receptionist smiled and excused herself, as Onowell stormed into the room. It was an office hall arranged like an amphitheater, where one entering from above could take in everything at a glance: a large screen at the bottom showing live images of Sky City from above and dozens of the Empire¡¯s dedicated servants deep in thought, working at their screens. A plump, middle-aged man, dabbing sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, issued orders with a loud voice atop his beer belly. ¡°Oh, look, Old Ao¡¯s here¡­¡± The corpulent bureaucrat struggled to turn around, attempting to greet his old friend with a smile that was smothered by the furious bald man¡¯s outburst. Director Liu trembled, his flesh wobbling as he spoke, ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you today, looking so frightening. Little Li, go and fetch my fine tea from my office¡­¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Principal Onowell could no longer restrain himself; all talk of cultivation and self-control was thrown into the wastebin. He grabbed Director Liu¡¯s collar and bellowed under the gaze of all present, ¡°What the hell are you thinking!¡± Clerk Little Li was about to rise but, startled by the bellow, quietly sat back down. Director Liu attempted a nervous chuckle, ¡°What¡¯s this about, coming all this way to go mad at an old friend¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb!¡± Onowell¡¯s voice boomed, ¡°How did the Dragon Worshippers get into the underground!¡± Director Liu wiped the sweat from his forehead, ¡°That man went down from your United States¡¯ building, you should be looking there, not here.¡± The bald man roared with even more ferocity, ¡°What was Yiji Hall doing?! They did nothing all day, even a single bypasser didn¡¯t take action; do you really plan to rely on Gongsun Ce and that Hunter to solve such a major problem?!¡± ¡°Talk reasonably, let go of me, hey let go of me first, everyone¡¯s watching, I can¡¯t save face this way¡­¡± Huffing angrily, the bald man let go of his collar, and the Empire¡¯s dedicated servants struggled to pinch their fingertips to stifle their laughter. Director Liu straightened his tie and spoke calmly, ¡°Old Ao, you are uninformed. This enemy is likely already in the Manifestation Realm, rashly sending people might not have any effect¡­¡± The United States-born principal erupted into a perfectly pronounced Empire curse, showcasing his deep understanding of foreign cultural sophistication, ¡°Your Liu Zhongwu, as the former Minister of Yiji Hall and current Governor of Sky City, can¡¯t stand up to a mere Manifestation Mage? You have a thousand ways to make that madman drop dead in broad daylight!¡± The Empire¡¯s official laughed awkwardly, ¡°See, I am so powerful, shouldn¡¯t you, a Clarity Realm educator, show some respect in my presence¡­¡± His old friend looked as if he was about to burst into flames from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, scaring Director Liu into ducking. He thought, if anger could raise a person¡¯s temperature, Onowell¡¯s bald head could probably be used to fry sausages. Chapter 43 - 43 26 The Big Shots_2 ?43: Chapter 26 The Big Shots_2 43: Chapter 26 The Big Shots_2 ¡°I would love to throw you into Cecil Laboratory to be a punching bag for biochemical apes!¡± the bald middle-aged man roared in the meeting room, ¡°You should have seen the intelligence gathered from the interrogation. The leader of the dragon worshippers holds the genuine medium, which is the Netherworld Dragon¡¯s right eye!!¡± When it came to his area of expertise, Director Liu immediately became serious, ¡°You can¡¯t call that a medium, where have you seen such a terrifying medium. That is the body of the Netherworld Dragon, a fragment left by a supreme being. Its mere existence is a destruction to the real world. Just throw it somewhere and in a few days, we will see a Ghost Prison¡­¡± His voice grew softer and softer, while Onowell¡¯s breathing became rougher. ¡°The consultant of the Mithril Pillar told me that if the dragon worshippers¡¯ fantasy succeeds, the dragon that comes will definitely be of the Monarch Level.¡± Director Liu nodded vigorously, ¡°Definitely. Lower-level dragons are not qualified to resonate with the remains of the Netherworld, the dragon phenomenon this time will surely be of the highest Monarch Level.¡± ¡°Are you planning to just watch as the Dragon Disaster strikes?! Watch the tragedy of three years ago repeat itself?! There are 5.7 million people in this city!!¡± ¡°Most of them are ticking bombs¡­¡± ¡°Most of them are children under 20!¡± Onowell beat his chest and stamped his feet, ¡°Old friend, I know you are not a heartless bastard. You must give me a reason.¡± Director Liu patted his shoulder and pulled up a chair, ¡°Sit down first, listen to me. Whatever you do now will only add to the chaos. On matters of great import, I, as an official, understand them better than you. We do not want to see the Dragon Disaster either, but as you know, officials from any country act on orders. Mr. Yan has issued an order, we have doubts, but we have to comply.¡± Onowell looked at him puzzled, ¡°Mr. Yan? Is there an official of higher rank than you in the Empire in the city of the sky?¡± Director Liu¡¯s face showed distress, ¡°Mr. Yan doesn¡¯t have any specific rank, but he holds the decree of the Empire¡¯s highest authority in his hand. Without being a big shot, he is one all the same.¡± ¡°¡­My God.¡± The elderly educator sat on the chair, his mind feeling blank. Director Liu smiled reassuringly, ¡°Think positively, old Ao. At worst, it will be us, the dragons, and the city of the sky perishing together, and that would be a significant contribution to world peace, a glorious departure.¡± ¡¤ At the same time, the central district. True to its name, the central district is situated at the center of the city of the sky. It is a high-tech zone crowded with academic institutions, housing most of the city¡¯s schools in the best location, known as the world¡¯s largest university town. In the middle of many diverse institutions, there¡¯s a vast, round-shaped, white academic institution extensively funded and built by the old educator from the Ustus Federation, Onowell Slorock. It is the first university in the city of the sky and the most renowned institution in the city, where Gongsun Ce and his friends study. The infamous Cecil Laboratory operates on the fourth floor of the school¡¯s laboratory building. It produces various biochemical entities, bizarre theories, and notorious research mishaps known as escaped experimental objects, rampaging experimental objects, and explosive experimental objects, making an indelible contribution to the reputation of Central United University. Shiyu Lianyi just left this place in the afternoon and returned to the campus in the evening; currently, he was sorting Torture records of Luze on the rooftop of the laboratory building. The masked woman, hugging her knees, gazed up at the starry sky while the masked man mumbled at the edge of the rooftop like someone about to commit suicide, raising concerns for his safety. ¡°What are you doing?¡± the masked woman asked. The masked man answered impatiently, ¡°Can¡¯t you see? I¡¯m calculating the coordinates.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not something one can tell just by looking.¡± ¡°Then let me put it in terms you can understand¡ªI¡¯m assessing the stability of the reality of this region.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not something one can understand just by listening.¡± The masked man clicked his tongue in irritation, ¡°Tsk! Shiyu kid!¡± Shiyu Lianyi responded with a wry smile, taking on the role of the explainer, ¡°Looking for the most likely coordinates where the giant dragon might appear, while also possibly preventing its arrival on land or underground, I believe that¡¯s the task at hand.¡± If a giant dragon appeared beneath the city, the city¡¯s foundation would collapse in an instant. The resulting chain reactions would stir up terrifying earthquakes, rendering all preparedness measures utterly futile. When the city itself that needs protection collapses, fighting loses much of its meaning. ¡°I think I get it now, no wonder Mr. Shiyu, your ability to express in words is much better than some weird adults.¡± The man in the mask turned back from the edge of the rooftop, shouting loudly, ¡°Let¡¯s go! We need to go deeper, take a break, and then find a suitable spot.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The masked man patted his butt and sat down right there. Holding his hands, he looked at the girl gazing at the stars, ¡°Little girl! Today you¡¯ve seen the files on three Impermanence Law Enforcers and even directly engaged in Divine Communication, any thoughts?¡± ¡°What thoughts?¡± ¡°Say whatever comes to mind.¡± The masked woman thought for a few seconds and said, ¡°I always feel that the Impermanence Skill is a very subtle ability.¡± The masked man laughed heartily, ¡°Hahaha! Subtle, what you mean to say is it¡¯s useless, right!¡± The masked woman nodded, ¡°In specific conditions, it can exhibit impressive power, but when it comes to lethality, it cannot compare to modern weapons. And if used in battle against people, considering the limitations, it also appears disadvantageous. Judging just by the performance at the God-reaching Rank, not one of them can defeat Ah Ce. Calling such a technique Dragon Slaying Skill, I really can¡¯t understand it.¡± Despite being a fairly impartial evaluation, he might not want to describe his friend as a unit of combat strength¡­ It looks like you yourself have also been defeated by Gongsun, the young man in the suit thought to himself. The masked man slapped his thigh, speaking as if he were an outsider, ¡°Everyone brags as if it¡¯s something incredible, yet not even nukes can be caught with Divine Communication and Manifestation¡ªit¡¯s embarrassing calling it Dragon Slaying Skill!¡± Don¡¯t be so sure. There are some Manifestation Mages who can catch a nuke¡­ ¡°Dragons aren¡¯t afraid of nukes, are they?¡± ¡°You could throw ten thousand nukes and still not scrape off a single scale from a giant dragon,¡± the masked man said slowly, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, little girl. The Impermanence Skill as a technique is utterly useless.¡± The masked man sharply criticized the skill he practiced, completely disregarding his stance as an Impermanence Law Enforcer, ¡°There are few who have the talent for mastering it, and the smartest ones often go mad. You want to protect your country and achieve greatness, yet before you even graduate, you¡¯ve turned into a madman. What¡¯s the use of reaching Divine Communication if it¡¯s less useful than a couple of guns¡­ It¡¯s genuinely a worthless technique. You better not waste your time learning this rubbish, it¡¯s useless!¡± The masked man got up from the ground, calling the two to follow, ¡°Let¡¯s go! The grumbling is over, time to get to real business!¡± Shiyu Lianyi silently followed, hearing his friend behind him ask, ¡°Impermanence Skill is useless, what about superpowers?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The tall man, without turning back, said, ¡°Rubbish! At least the Impermanence Skill was something I learned out of interest; superpowers are junk just thrown onto your heads, you have to take it whether you want it or not, where¡¯s the freedom? Even worse.¡± Shiyu Lianyi bitter-smiled, ¡°Then I must be the worst of the worst¡­¡± ¡°You lad are indeed the most miserable, what can you do? If those morons at the Shiyu Research Institute are all gone, you might as well take the chance to enjoy yourself for a bit.¡± The noisy group left, and the experimental building¡¯s rooftop regained its peace. Several meters below their feet, Gongsun Ce and Alice were also about to arrive at their final destination. With varying objectives revolving around the same incident, the individuals commenced their respective actions¡­ Chapter 44 - 44 27 A Sudden Emergence ?44: Chapter 27 A Sudden Emergence 44: Chapter 27 A Sudden Emergence Beneath the sky city, within the belly of the giant dragon. Gongsun Ce and Alice found another moving platform in the passage. The two stood on the platform and sped along the nearly horizontal track, silently gazing at the emerald sea. After a while, Alice was the first to break the silence, ¡°I¡¯m a bit worried that after this job is done, they will silence me.¡± ¡°Look on the bright side,¡± Gongsun Ce consoled, ¡°you might even get a double promotion. The higher the level, the higher the security clearance; it¡¯s only logical.¡± Alice sighed, pressing her hand against her forehead, ¡°You¡¯re so optimistic¡­ Aren¡¯t you worried that they¡¯ll ¡®deal with¡¯ you?¡± ¡°Not worried. Mr. Gongsun, I am upright and easy-going, and my strength is also considerable. Why would the officials have a reason to offend me?¡± Gongsun Ce spread his hands, ¡°Not to boast, but I believe that if I were to go berserk, the damage wouldn¡¯t be small.¡± ¡°That attitude makes me wonder if you¡¯ve done something similar before¡­¡± Don¡¯t give me that look like you¡¯re sizing up a criminal suspect right now. ¡°How could I? My mind is quite stable; I¡¯ve never gone berserk since awakening my superpower.¡± This was¡­ the truth. Actions of rage taken by one¡¯s own free will could not be described as going berserk. ¡°Liar!¡± Alice replied without a second thought, ¡°Seriously, when you have the time, see a psychologist. Mixing lies with every few words you say is already a sickness. Can¡¯t you live without lying?¡± Gongsun Ce laughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious to you?¡± Alice pursed her lips and stopped talking. Gongsun Ce, at a loss for words, began pondering over the profiles of their enemies, using this to suppress his anxious mood. The information Mo Yuankai provided this time was unusually scarce; ¡°Xu Junyi,¡± this imperial name, his experience as an official of the Empire, the fact that no surveillance had ever captured his movements¡ªthis was all of Gongsun Ce¡¯s knowledge of the leader of the giant dragon worshippers. Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t help but feel regretful, having understood the importance of Impermanence Skill information after the battle against the Dire Beasts. If he had a declaration, or even a name, he could have attempted to guess his opponent¡¯s abilities. But now, with nothing in his hands, he could only speculate into the void¡­ pondering over the very nature of Impermanence Skill itself. He remembered Shiyu Lianyi¡¯s explanation. To analyze Impermanence Skill, one should consider the host, the manifestation of the power, the specific conditions, and the desires, goals, or thoughts. This approach seemed more like a technique that had emerged to accomplish something or to prove something, rather than a ¡°technique to defeat dragons.¡± Gongsun Ce started a mental exercise in his head, using this method to analyze his other opponents. There was insufficient information on the bald man with a gaseous body, Takizawa Yoshikazu¡¯s ideology was the rebirth of necrotic life, and Capro seemed to crave consumption. Tierlos desired an omnipresent body yet always had an immovable core, which might indicate an intent to flee. As for Alice, who had never uttered a declaration, he could only infer from the manifestation of her abilities: flowers blooming in the shadows, moving from shadow to shadow¡­ Was she also seeking escape? To flee from the dark domain, because she actually despised the irregular profession of a Hunter? ¡°Tsk.¡± This way of thinking felt like prying into the hearts of others, bringing about a sense of guilt in Gongsun Ce for no particular reason. ¡°What¡¯s with the ¡®tsk¡¯?¡± Alice asked casually. Gongsun Ce quickly thought up an excuse, and he came up with a good one that fit the mood, though it sounded a bit like a pickup line¡­ But since Miss Alice was older and more experienced than him, she probably wouldn¡¯t be embarrassed by such a small matter. ¡°Nothing much, just thinking about what to do after the fight. Whether to grab a late-night bite at a fast-food restaurant, hit up friends to play some games¡­ or try to get Miss Alice¡¯s real name.¡± Alice was genuinely surprised, ¡°I¡¯m already drafting my last words, and you tell me you¡¯re thinking about my name?!¡± You¡¯re quite the pessimist, Miss Hunter. ¡°I¡¯m a student, after all. Students are always optimistic. We don¡¯t ponder about what happens if we lose or die; instead, we think about delicious food, entertaining games, and what the names of beautiful older ladies might be.¡± ¡°Yeah, right. I envy your carefree attitude so much, I¡¯ll become an idiot if I keep hanging around you.¡± Was it an illusion, or did Alice seem a bit shy? This guy couldn¡¯t possibly be unexpectedly innocent¡­ Alice fell silent for a while, then suddenly said, ¡°After this is all over, will you talk about me with your friends?¡± ¡°What should I say, that I was busy saving the world with a pitiful blue-haired older lady from the Country a few days ago?¡± ¡°You can leave out the strange adjectives.¡± Without much hesitation, Gongsun Ce replied, ¡°I won¡¯t. Sharing things like this with friends doesn¡¯t fit my personality, and moreover¡­¡± ¡°Moreover?¡± ¡°Some experiences are better treasured in the heart, that¡¯s what I believe.¡± Hunter slapped his shoulder, laughing, ¡°You speak such naive words so bluntly? You¡¯re being too childish, Gongsun Ce!¡± It was more naive than childish. Gongsun Ce always felt at times like these that he truly was still a student. He wanted to find another amusing topic to joke about¡ªlike asking whether those with the Divine Communication named themselves¡ªbut he felt that this was a bit too lacking in tension. Yet discussing the details of the giant dragon summoning might make both Alice and himself nervous due to the stress of the unknown. Could they really make it in time? Perhaps the leader of the dragon worshippers had already succeeded and was merely waiting for the experts to arrive before commencing the summoning, to relish in the despair on their faces. Or maybe the enemy they imagined had already been slain by specialists from another country, and they would be facing yet another trap that had been set long ago¡­ The more Gongsun Ce thought, the more nervous he became, and the Superpower User who was usually eloquent found himself at a loss for words. Alice, on the other hand, brought up something unrelated to the mission, ¡°Does it bother you that much? The real name.¡± ¡°I think a name, just like a face, is a symbol of one¡¯s humanity, a constant reference to the other person. But if the name you use is merely a temporary code or pseudonym, it feels like you¡¯re always conversing with someone behind a mask, and that thought brings a sense of inexplicable inequality.¡± ¡°You sure are troublesome. What¡¯s there to ask about the name of someone like me¡­¡± Alice crossed her arms and turned her body away, ¡°Here¡¯s the deal, after everything is over, when it¡¯s time to part ways, I¡¯ll tell you my real name. Conversely¡­¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alice¡¯s tone unexpectedly softened. ¡°We¡¯ve come this far, so don¡¯t you dare die here.¡± Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t suppress his desire to tease, ¡°You really don¡¯t suit this girlish way of speaking.¡± ¡°Shut up, let¡¯s pretend I never said that!¡± ¡°Right, that¡¯s more like you.¡± They stopped talking as the mobile platform came to a halt in front of the end of the track, by the door, readying themselves for battle. Both understood tacitly it was not the time to hold back. The moment they encountered the enemy, they would give their all, leaving no room for the enemy to struggle! Gongsun Ce approached the door, recreating the barrier of white matter on the opposite side. Alice¡¯s hand rested on his shoulder, and they disappeared from in front of the heavy door¡­ When the two re-emerged from the shadows and the white matter barrier vanished, they were once again surprised by the sight before them. It was an enormous, luminescent green sphere floating in the air like a celestial body. And around the sphere roamed thousands of giant dragon-like shadows. Countless tubes connected to the sphere, transporting green fluid in every direction, and in the foreground, in the center of their field of vision, stood a man in a brown coat with his back to them. He looked up at the enormous object above his head as if beholding a god. Beneath the man¡¯s feet were countless intricate lines drawn with charcoal, resembling an Array used for mysterious rituals. The black patterns rose from the ground to the walls, extending along the tubes towards the sphere, only showing an incongruous blank space at the core. Even those with no background in mysticism could see that the Array was nearly complete, lacking only a few strokes at the center. The man¡¯s appearance was the exact match of Xu Junyi from the files. He sighed, ¡°You¡¯re a step too late.¡± No one responded to his words, as the battle began the moment their eyes met. Gongsun Ce launched a hundred invisible strikes with his Telekinesis, while Alice teleported into the shadows behind the man, aiming a short arrow at his head. However, the leader of the dragon worshippers ignored all attacks. ¡°All I ask for is a fair fight.¡± Xu Junyi simply turned his head to look into the young man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Desolate Form unveils, prosperity and misfortune balance in a fleeting duel.¡± In the moment of the proclamation, The two who exchanged glances vanished from this world simultaneously. Chapter 45 - 45 28 A Fight in a Moments Time ?45: Chapter 28: A Fight in a Moment¡¯s Time 45: Chapter 28: A Fight in a Moment¡¯s Time When consciousness was restored, Gongsun Ce found himself in a pure white space. For an instant, he thought an afternoon nightmare had attacked him during battle. Then, he saw another person in this space. Ten meters away stood a middle-aged man wearing sunglasses, facing him. He was dressed in a brown coat, a black vest, and old-fashioned jeans. With a burly and robust figure, he was indeed the leader of the giant dragon worshippers. His posture was natural and flawless, reminding Gongsun Ce of an expressionless girl¡¯s family member. This man must be good at close combat, deduced the superpower user in his mind. The man in sunglasses said, ¡°I am Xu Junyi, a Desolate Form Mage from the Manifestation Realm. State your name.¡± ¡°Gongsun Ce, superpower user.¡± Gongsun Ce surveyed the empty world around him. ¡°Is this the Impermanence Skill of the Manifestation Realm? It¡¯s really quite different from the Desolate Form ¡¤ Divine Communication we know.¡± ¡°Oh. You have good mental quality¡­ not bad, saves me the effort of calming your mind.¡± Xu Junyi took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and a lighter appeared out of nowhere in his hand, asking, ¡°Do you mind?¡± ¡°If you stay away from me, I don¡¯t care.¡± He actually did so. The middle-aged man took several steps back, lit a cigarette, and started smoking unguardedly with his back to him. Gongsun Ce was at a loss for words. He didn¡¯t know whether this was a condition for the other¡¯s powers to activate or some kind of psychological warfare with a specific purpose. If it was a power where ¡°the enemy dies if certain conditions are met,¡± doing nothing would undoubtedly be wrong. For caution¡¯s sake, he decided to protect himself first, setting up invisible threads, using his abilities to fly into the air, forming a barrier of white matter to block any incoming attack¡ª ¡°?!¡± Gongsun Ce was shocked. There were no threads, no flight, no white matter. Abilities that used to activate as naturally as raising an arm now responded no matter how he called out¡­ like a normal person who had lost limbs, the feeling of helplessness echoed in his heart, and the discomfort from displacement was almost nauseating. ¡°No need to be surprised,¡± said the giant dragon worshipper calmly, ¡°none of us can use any powers beyond common sense now because we are going to have a fair fight¡­ as fair a fight as possible.¡± Xu Junyi extinguished his cigarette butt and walked towards him, stopping ten meters away. Reading into the meaning of these words, the superpower user came to a conclusion highly unfavorable to himself. ¡°Strip us of our superpowers and determine the victor in this space? That¡¯s different from the Desolate Form I know of.¡± The man with sunglasses smiled. ¡°Heh¡­ the Desolate Form you recognize. As someone who has never practiced Impermanence Skill, do you really have the right to set your own standards?¡± ¡°¡­ I¡¯m speechless. Nevertheless, this sort of battle doesn¡¯t seem very fair to me.¡± Without his superpowers, Gongsun Ce was nothing more than a physically fit university student. He knew no fighting techniques, had no professional training, and to have someone like him fight a middle-aged man who looked like he could wrestle a bear with his bare hands, defeat could be declared even before the start. ¡°Absolute fairness never exists. But I¡¯m not so vile as to decide the outcome against you like this. You will know all the information about my Impermanence Skill, and you will clearly understand how to confront this duel, with no concealment whatsoever¡­ because it is the rule manifested from my own heart within the Minute Battle, the rules laid out in my mind.¡± The man with sunglasses stamped his right foot, and an enormous round table like a casino¡¯s appeared out of nowhere in the empty space. He held up three fingers: ¡°I decide how victory or defeat is determined, but you decide the battlefield and the assistance you will receive. The one who loses the ability to fight is deemed the loser. Even if the loser dies in the battle, they will not lose their life in reality and for the rest of the day, must not harm the victor by any means and must obey all of the victor¡¯s orders. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This is my Desolate Form ¡¤ Manifestation, a completely transparent and fair duel with all conditions laid out.¡± ¡°I must obey the victor¡¯s orders¡­?¡± Gongsun Ce focused on the final outcome. If he understood correctly, the loser of this battle would be completely dominated by the victor. He now understood how the man came to be underground. ¡°You used your Manifestation on officials? Since you won in the duel, they had to help you cover your tracks¡­ They had to bring you to the underground of Sky City!¡± Xu Junyi nodded slightly. ¡°Those portly bureaucrats in the United States might have lost their strength, but they didn¡¯t have much brains left either. Coming here was simpler than I thought; all I had to do was find the building leading underground and defeat everyone inside, and my task was complete.¡± Gongsun Ce imagined a bunch of fat middle-aged men in suits fighting this man and couldn¡¯t help feeling sympathetic. But when he thought about how it would be himself fighting later on, the sympathy turned into a sour resignation. The young man with glasses asked quickly, ¡°How much time in the real world will our battle consume?¡± ¡°An instant. So you needn¡¯t think about buying time; even if you stand here for a hundred years, less than a second will have passed in reality.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that great, I am confident enough to stand here and chat with you for a thousand¡­¡± He suddenly covered his mouth. The words he was about to say halted abruptly, as some invisible force entered his mouth, silencing him in the most brutal way possible. Chapter 46 - 46 28 A Battle of Every Inch_2 ?46: Chapter 28: A Battle of Every Inch_2 46: Chapter 28: A Battle of Every Inch_2 The middle-aged man in sunglasses chuckled, ¡°I¡¯ve already said, you cannot deceive each other in this space. You don¡¯t have the confidence to speak for a thousand years, thus such a lie naturally cannot be uttered.¡± Another regulation that forbade lying. This world was indeed harsh on those accustomed to navigating situations with lies. ¡°Ah¡­ alright then. Going back to the battle conditions, how about I decide the method of determining the victor, and you decide the venue and what assistance you receive?¡± Xu Junyi, with his hands in his pockets, calmly looked at him, ¡°If you choose video games, or a race to decide the victor, in domains unknown to me, how should I respond? Would you say that kind of duel is fair? Similarly, if I said let¡¯s decide the outcome with Chinese chess or Go, would you agree?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s forget about board games.¡± He couldn¡¯t find a single loophole to exploit. He was starting to understand the other¡¯s intent; his Impermanence Skill seemed to be established for one purpose only¡ªto create a fair duel as he initially said. Xu Junyi slapped the round table with his hand, and countless simple drawings flickered across it, finally settling on the image of two little figures engaged in hand-to-hand combat. ¡°The method of combat I am designating is the universally understood form of fighting. Determining victory through fists and weapons has always been the common solution to human disputes across all ages.¡± The young man in glasses said sarcastically, ¡°Fighting with you, a muscle man who excels in close combat, sure is fair.¡± ¡°Therefore, I¡¯ve given you compensation; you can choose the combat venue and one item for assistance. If you¡¯re unsatisfied with the disparity in strength, then devise a way to win with intelligence.¡± The giant dragon worshiper pointed his finger at the round table, ¡°Place your hand on the table and imagine the duel venue you desire. It must not contain any traps or mechanisms that hinder both parties; we should be able to see all the details within. If you can¡¯t imagine anything, let the table decide randomly.¡± The young man with glasses took a deep breath and placed his hand on the table. He knew the battle he was about to engage in was extremely unfavorable for him. Without his superpower, it was like a sniper without a gun, a swordsman without a sword, his skills rendered useless. Environment and assistance¡ªthese were his only possible means to turn defeat into victory. He had to find an environment in which he might win¡­ even one that, although transparent to the opponent, could still give him an advantage. Gongsun Ce tapped into his memories, searching for materials from past battles that might be useful. The full panorama of the venue materialized before him on the round table: a construction site enclosed by a green fence. Yellow sand fluttered under the gloomy sky, with steel reinforcement and concrete piled by the blue carpenter¡¯s shed on the vacant ground, a bulldozer stationed beside a mound of earth, a dump truck parked at the shed¡¯s entrance, and lunch boxes and cigarette butts scattered on the sandy ground, as if a group of construction workers had just been working there. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Just as Xu Junyi was about to say something, he noticed a building that looked like an abandoned factory in the center of the construction site. The image on the round table continued to zoom in, allowing him to see the interior of the old factory¡ªfilled with peculiar equipment such as pumps, lifts, mustard machines seen in repair workshops, as well as welding guns and protective masks seen on construction sites, along with many other shiny silver streamlined devices he couldn¡¯t recognize, leaving him puzzled for a moment. He also found scattered items on the ground, large machinery, and in many corners of the factory, like screws, bolts, metal scraps¡­ and particularly large-caliber bullets. The young man opened his eyes and said, ¡°My designated duel venue is this factory. I want to confirm the distance¡ªare we appearing here simultaneously? What will our initial distance be?¡± The man in sunglasses clasped his hands behind his back, believing he had already guessed the opponent¡¯s plan. ¡°Simultaneously appearing, ten meters apart. You plan to use these spare parts and professional equipment as weapons for victory. How will they be used? Are you going to assemble something on the spot with the technology of the City in the Sky? Or, are you planning to use these materials as ammunition to take my life?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The young man with gray hair furrowed his brow, remaining silent. Such a response only bolstered his confidence in his guess, for even the most cunning opponent could do nothing when required to speak the truth, and upon having their covert combat plans pointed out, silence was all they had left. The middle-aged man stared into the eyes of his opponent, continuing to exert psychological pressure, ¡°You can request one more piece of combat equipment. This item must be of medium or small size and useful in close combat, and I will know what it can do. If you request firearms, the ammunition cannot exceed two rounds.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Thank you for the clarification. May I also ask what items today¡¯s opponents have chosen?¡± Xu Junyi smiled and nodded, ¡°You may ask, but I won¡¯t tell.¡± ¡°Very cautious indeed¡­ Well then, I should think about my weapon.¡± Gongsun Ce placed his hand above the round table. Beneath his palm, a black luminescence emerged. Absorbing all colors, the black turned into twisted lines, slowly rising from the center of the table. Xu Junyi saw the blade without a blood groove, the hilt wrapped with a bloody cloth, and the spike that extended from the hilt¡¯s end like a twisted cross. The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes¡ªhe immediately recognized that it was a weapon, a weapon that shouldn¡¯t exist in reality. Chapter 47 - 47 28 The Battle of Every Inch of Shadow_3 ?47: Chapter 28 The Battle of Every Inch of Shadow_3 47: Chapter 28 The Battle of Every Inch of Shadow_3 As if the dark night had turned into a viscous liquid, it was then molded into form by a pale flame and finally forged into a blade after bathing in blood. An ominous black longsword. The sword was simply too sharp, just the sight of its impending shape was enough to cause a sting in his eyes hidden behind sunglasses. ¡°I forgot to mention to you that your assistance must not involve creations of the supernatural¡­ Any items related to superpowers are not supposed to exist in this duel,¡± said Xu Junyi, as he tapped lightly on the round table, and the not-yet-formed blade immediately dissolved into a burst of light. The Superpower User¡¯s expression remained unchanged, not upset by the suddenly added rule, ¡°I would have preferred if you had made the rules clear earlier. Then, I will take this, an individual combat force field protective device. It is a purely technological product without any supernatural elements.¡± He reached toward the round table again, but this time, no item appeared. Xu Junyi spoke unruffled, ¡°The high-tech weapons of the Firmament City are also beyond common sense for someone like me who lives on the outside. Such weapons that break the rules should not exist in a fair fight, that¡¯s only right.¡± The young man laughed mockingly, ¡°Common sense? Whose common sense are you using to make these judgements, your own?¡± ¡°This is my manifestation, naturally, it¡¯s my common sense that prevails here¡­¡± Xu Junyi tapped on the tabletop with his finger, ¡°Don¡¯t think about exploiting any loopholes in a fair duel. Under my rules, all forbidden aids are impossible to materialize.¡± Gongsun Ce had already stopped caring whether the rules were fair or not. He focused his mind, pondering other weapons he might use, ¡°A portable mind control device.¡± ¡°Forbidden.¡± ¡°A miniature plasma hand cannon.¡± ¡°Forbidden.¡± ¡°Biochemical Slime.¡± ¡°Forbidden.¡± Forbidden, forbidden, forbidden¡­ With each verdict from the giant dragon devotee, all the weapons Gongsun Ce conceptualized failed to materialize. At this point, the young man with grey hair was looking quite displeased. Xu Junyi helpfully materialized a stool and said to his opponent with a smile, ¡°Stop daydreaming, kid. You might as well just ask for a handgun.¡± ¡°Tch¡­!¡± The young man with grey hair punched the round table, an act which made him all the more certain of something in his heart. Xu Junyi laughed silently to himself. He had deliberately completed the rules one by one earlier to unbalance his opponent¡¯s mentality. Now his tactics had worked. When the opponent realized that he could not think of a way to win, stripped of his greatest weapon in battle so far, this young man had already lost his reason. Xu Junyi was all too familiar with such reactions; whether it be Superpower Users or Impermanence Law Enforcers, the powerful supernatural abilities were often the biggest supports in the hearts of these people. They often failed to realize that their fights were essentially about using abilities to overcome those without, or using stronger abilities to beat weaker ones, where one could not see the strength of the person themselves, only the inequality brought by abilities. But once they arrived at a truly fair battlefield, deprived of the advantages brought by supernatural powers, deprived of the ease provided by technology and science, they had no choice but to reveal the weak true self hidden beneath their fortresses¡­ Far from any mentally resilient warriors, they were just twisted and weak individuals one after the other. The Superpower User tapped the edge of the round table anxiously, as a crimson mechanical gauntlet materialized before him. The gauntlet sported an exaggeratedly large semicircular guard and had five small holes at the knuckles, indicating the presence of built-in gadgets at a glance. Gongsun Ce quickly said, ¡°A multi-functional mechanical gauntlet, equipped with lighting, lock picking, buzzing, and location tracking features, and it comes with one smoke grenade and one tear gas grenade each, which can be launched like missiles to inflict damage on the enemy.¡± The middle-aged man in sunglasses shook his head, ¡°That barely counts as a usable weapon, it¡¯s just unfortunate that you haven¡¯t finished listing all the features, which still constitutes deception. By violating the rules of this world, you cannot apply it to combat.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t finish telling me all the rules just now, did you?¡± ¡°I did tell you afterward, didn¡¯t I?¡± Gongsun Ce stared at him intently, squeezing a few words out of his mouth, ¡°This gauntlet can be loaded with small metal projectiles to be shot out.¡± Where would he find such small metal projectiles? Naturally, it was all the scattered bits and pieces strewn about the dilapidated factory. ¡°Ha¡­ hahaha! Fine, you have my blessing!¡± Xu Junyi stood with his hands behind his back, laughing loudly, ¡°Kid, you really made the wrong decision. You set up complex terrain, placed useless details, and went to great lengths to divert my attention, but little did you know that the rules of my manifestation are specifically designed to counter your clever tricks. Such a waste of effort, you might as well have picked up a gun and held it in your hand!¡± The Superpower User sneered, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve never fired a gun before. If I took one, it would probably become an advantage for you.¡± ¡°You can rest assured, you won¡¯t really die. You¡¯ll just become a member of the new world like me, and then you¡¯ll regret what you¡¯re doing now¡­ Wait, there are ten seconds left, the duel is about to begin.¡± The space, empty of all but air, had rapidly transformed; in the blink of an eye, the two of them were in the middle of the dilapidated factory. The giant dragon cult leader took off his sunglasses and readied himself for battle. ¡°Desolate Form Mage, Xu Junyi.¡± The gray-haired youth looked at him expressionlessly and raised the glove on his right hand. ¡°Superpower User, Gongsun Ce. 3¡­2¡­1! The final countdown ended, and the invisible force that bound the two men disappeared at the same time. Gongsun Ce immediately activated the mechanism in his glove, shooting a smoke bomb from it, filling the dilapidated factory with white smoke in an instant! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Little trick.¡± Xu Junyi stepped on the ground with one foot, and dashed towards the corner to his right front. During the preparation time just now, he had seen clearly that it was the only place piled with parts, closer to the youth but farther from him. He had already anticipated the opening move; the Superpower User would definitely disrupt the line of sight and head to this place to replenish his ammunition for an attack! Unfortunately, the youth misjudged the physical disparity between them; his movements were far faster than the opponent could have imagined! The man with sunglasses rushed at a speed unattainable by ordinary people. He kicked the pile of parts on the ground, then turned and punched out! ¡°Oh?¡± His fist tore through the fog, but did not hit the youth who should have been there. Had he misjudged? Xu Junyi threw several punches in quick succession, the force of his fists dispersing the thin smoke, allowing him to finally catch sight of his enemy¡¯s figure. Gongsun Ce had disappeared by the door of the dilapidated factory, actually abandoning the advantageous terrain and fleeing outside the factory! The giant dragon cultist cautiously protected his body, prepared for the youth¡¯s sneaky attacks while stepping forward. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re just wasting your strength¡­ This area is as big as you¡¯ve set it, you won¡¯t be able to run beyond these boundaries.¡± While verbally undermining the enemy¡¯s morale, he pondered the youth¡¯s thought process. This enemy did not seem to be a reckless brute¡­ Even if his mentality was unstable before the battle started, he should not have lost his composure from the beginning. He walked out of the factory cautiously, quickly surveying the surroundings. ¡°¡­!¡± Xu Junyi¡¯s pupils dilated. He had just witnessed the gray-haired youth take action; the Superpower User smashed his fist through a pane of glass. The glass window on the left side of a vehicle. The earthy-yellow metal behemoth outside the dilapidated factory, a common sight on construction sites, the window glass of a dump truck¡­! The gray-haired youth¡¯s expression was calm, decisive in action, not a trace of anxiety or nervousness on his face. He agilely jumped into the vehicle, no hesitation in starting the engine. Dozens of tons of metal roared to life, charging towards the man in the trench coat! ¡°You!!!!¡± ¡°Come on, a fair and square one-on-one!¡± Gongsun Ce yelled over the rumbling noise, ¡°All kinds of martial arts, this is a dump truck!¡± Chapter 48 - 48 29 Qin Secret Skill ?48: Chapter 29 Qin Secret Skill 48: Chapter 29 Qin Secret Skill Trapped by the enemy¡¯s superpower, his strongest weapon had been stripped away, and now he was about to face a combat battle with fixed rules. Under such unfavorable conditions, what should he do? ¡ªNaturally, he would try to exploit the loopholes in the rules! Whether it was brass knuckles, the black sword, or even the bizarre equipment in the factory, everything he had envisioned was intended to avoid direct combat as the primary goal. Gongsun Ce had a clear understanding of his close combat skills; without using his superpower, he couldn¡¯t even beat a female college student, and wrestling with a muscular man would practically be akin to seeking death. That¡¯s why he had to rack his brains to win the raw duel with wisdom and intellect, and now the method he was using undoubtedly showcased his intelligence¡­ weighing a hefty 20 tons! ¡°Come on! I¡¯ll crush you with a dump truck!!¡± The man with sunglasses turned and ran. ¡°Goddamn it, Gongsun Ce, you dare to use such despicable means in a fair duel!!¡± From the driver¡¯s seat, Gongsun Ce yelled back with a volume not inferior to his: ¡°Spare me that! I can¡¯t use my strongest weapon, yet I have to fight a duel under the rules you set, favoring what you¡¯re good at. It¡¯s really brazen of you to talk about fairness!¡± Xu Junyi ran towards a diagonal direction, attempting to escape from the danger area since the dump truck was slow to start and hard to steer. But the noise behind him grew louder, and the sense of impending crisis became even greater! He looked back, his eyes wide in shock: ¡°How can this be¡ª!¡± The sandy-colored dump truck was fast on his heels, closing the gap between them faster than he had expected! The Superpower User¡¯s voice came through the shattered glass: ¡°Forgot to tell you, this truck is locally manufactured. You can guess what model it matches when you feel the impact.¡± At that moment, Gongsun Ce¡¯s posture was extremely odd; he was holding the steering wheel with one hand that wasn¡¯t wearing a gauntlet, while the mechanical gauntlet he had specifically made was aimed at the rear of the cabin. From an angle Xu Junyi couldn¡¯t see, the mechanical gauntlet on his hand shot backward, a crimson iron fist piercing through the driving cab and into the cargo carried by the dump truck. Dust mingled with black particles fluttered within the cabin. If the middle-aged man with sunglasses had seen this, he might have guessed something. Unfortunately, the current Xu Junyi was too busy fleeing through the construction site to even look back. ¡°Using a debris truck to hit people, you¡¯ve got guts!¡± The young man¡¯s face showed no sign of guilt: ¡°You said that losing here wouldn¡¯t mean actual death, so what else should I worry about? Lies can¡¯t be spoken inside the Impermanence Skill¡¯s domain, and that¡¯s your own rule, isn¡¯t it?¡± Gongsun Ce floored the gas pedal, and the dump truck thundered forward at full speed! The man in the windbreaker realized he couldn¡¯t escape. But with a loud shout, Xu Junyi made a desperate leap into the air, the sandy-yellow hood scraping his spine as he disappeared from the young man¡¯s view in the blink of an eye. Boom! Merely brushed by the hood, the burly man flew through the air like a ragdoll! A dust cloud rose on a sand dune half a construction site away, where a brown figure lay amidst it. He must have lost his ability to fight¡­ anyone seeing this would think so, even commonfolk who had never seen a car accident would think the same! ¡°¡­¡± Yet, Gongsun Ce veered in a different direction, continuing to drive the vehicle to ram again. The feel of the steering wheel in his hand was still real, the gauntlet having just returned to his right arm¡ªall this indicated that their duel wasn¡¯t over yet. Desolate Form Mages should take pride in physical strength. It couldn¡¯t be that Manifestation Realm¡¯s Xu Junyi would be defeated that easily. Could it be an alien transformation like those of Xing people, or had he turned into a monster like those from Tierlos? With no intelligence to make further guesses, he could only rely on the handful of weapons in his hand to continue the fight. The dump truck rumbled forward, the young man with gray hair coldly watched the man getting closer: ¡°Come, let¡¯s create another impact.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do it anymore¡­ damn kid, you think I, Xu Junyi, am out of options? You think I¡¯d let you humiliate me!¡± ¡°Listening to your full-throated shout, you seem to be fine, aren¡¯t you without any super abilities now? Relying on a Desolate Form Mage¡¯s physical prowess in hand-to-hand combat, who¡¯s humiliating who, eh? Return my superpower first before you talk.¡± The giant dragon adherent went silent. He couldn¡¯t see the expression on the man¡¯s face, but from the robust panting, it was evident that his emotions had significantly deviated from calm¡­ sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was truly enraged now! ¡°Ha!¡± The robust man tossed his windbreaker forward. The brown windbreaker covered the windscreen in front of the driver¡¯s seat, obscuring Gongsun Ce¡¯s view significantly! The young man with gray hair smashed the glass with his gauntlet, pulling the windbreaker into the cab. He sharply turned the steering wheel, trying to hit his opponent with the side of the vehicle¡ª ¡°!¡± Gongsun Ce realized he had made the wrong decision. He initially thought the man would use the windbreaker to block his view and lunge forward, which is why he had specifically turned the vehicle to avoid his attack. But now he realized that Xu Junyi hadn¡¯t attacked with his body as he had expected¡­ instead, the man was standing unmoved in the sand. Except now he held a new weapon in his hands: a bundle of threaded steel bars piled on the ground! Xu Junyi lifted the steel bars like a baseball bat, shouting, ¡°Qin Secret Skill!¡± ¡°You know this move too?!¡± Qin Secret Skill, a heritage martial art of the Qin family, is a deadly technique Miss Qin Qianbai would use only in serious fights. Upon hearing those three words, the young man immediately abandoned the idea of continuing to drive. He kicked open the passenger door vigorously and leapt out in the direction away from his opponent! ¡°Mountain Piercing!¡± In the next instant, thick steel bars burst through the side door, piercing the driver¡¯s cabin from end to end! The unmanned dump truck, propelled by its inertia, surged forward, while Xu Junyi used the steel bars to leap onto the roof, from which he searched out his detestable enemy below and ferociously jumped down. ¡°Sunken Land!¡± Without needing to witness its power firsthand, the young man could imagine from the name of the move how forceful and fierce that punch would be! Gongsun Ce instinctively rolled on the ground, a move that saved his life: he was only sent flying by the residual shockwave of the steel fist, narrowly escaping being split in two! The giant dragon worshiper¡¯s rage-fueled strike created a deep pit at the construction site, the force of the explosion imprinting circular patterns around the crater. Xu Junyi slowly rose to his feet, glaring intently at the young man not far away, ¡°Come on, kid. Let¡¯s see what other tricks you have up your sleeve.¡± Supporting himself on his knees, Gongsun Ce stood up from the ground. He noticed bloodstains at the corners of the giant dragon worshiper¡¯s mouth, and his posture was not as stable as before, slightly floating. The dump truck¡¯s surprise attack had not been in vain; Xu Junyi must have sustained serious injuries, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have dodged that punch. ¡°Let me think¡­ Ah, how about a simple provocation? Being an official Impermanence Law Enforcer of the Empire, you should unavoidably hold some office and know the principles of protecting the country and ensuring public peace. Yet here you are abandoning your duties to chase after the Evil Dragon and attacking civilians like me with your powers. Such shameful actions, I wonder if they betray who you once were in your youth.¡± Xu Junyi, about to throw a punch, halted his movements upon hearing these words. ¡°How do you know I am¡­¡± The Superpower User brushed the dust from his clothes, ¡°Not even deductive reasoning, simply process of elimination. From your name, Xu Junyi, you evidently aren¡¯t a member of the Qin family, yet you employ their techniques, so you must have learned from someone in the Qin family. Without official backing, how else would you gain access to a Qin family instructor? If this tells anything¡­ I guess the reason you walked this path relates to the Dragon Disaster from ten years ago.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The middle-aged man lowered his fist. Upon hearing the word ¡®Dragon Disaster,¡¯ he fell into a strange silence. Perhaps because he was utterly confident that he could handle the student before him, or maybe, he was curious to hear why the other had come to such a conclusion¡­ Pushing up his glasses, Gongsun Ce spoke unflustered, ¡°Considering recent dragon-related calamities that shocked the world, aside from the destruction of the country three years ago, it¡¯s only the Dragon Disaster ten years back. Being an official of the Empire, it¡¯s undoubtedly more plausible you encountered the latter, and as someone from the Manifestation Realm, you would¡¯ve been affected by the Evil Dragon for a longer time than your peers. You were influenced by the Dragon Disaster while aiding Ruoshui City, am I right, Mr. Xu Junyi?¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re wrong.¡± The middle-aged man relaxed his fist and stared at his palm, ¡°I was born and raised in Ruoshui City¡­ during that year, I had returned home to visit when I witnessed Its descent.¡± The Superpower User fell silent, thinking he should express his condolences; however, he then realized that the man before him was attempting to rekindle a tragedy in the celestial capital. Eventually, he said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ but you must understand why I have to stop you.¡± The middle-aged man coldly replied, ¡°Your apology just shows your ignorance and naivety. Do you think my family died? They were supposed to become residents of the new world, enjoying eternal glory under the illumination of God¡­ The Empire destroyed all that.¡± Xu Junyi¡¯s hand trembled slightly, his body stiffening as painful memories surged into reality, ¡°Since I arrived in this city, I have been in constant agony. The grieving cries of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky from ten years ago still echo in my ears, yet the ignorant citizens of this city remain unaware. They stand on the shoulders of God, trampling over the head of the giant.¡± ¡°They even transformed the body of God into this¡­!¡± He clenched his fist again and sprang like a ferocious beast, ¡°This Eternal Empire killed God. It¡¯s human ignorance that harmed my family!! Self-righteous boy, you think you¡¯re saving the world? You are just like them, executioners harming life!!¡± A dull thud resonated, and the man¡¯s body halted in place. The fist that should have struck the young man¡¯s face was intercepted by a crimson iron fist in mid-air. ¡°Turn humans into bodiless mists, bind them with stone into statues¡­ And you call that ¡®eternity¡¯? Dare you to name those who stop them executioners?¡± Gongsun Ce firmly grabbed the man¡¯s right fist. ¡°Shut up, Xu Junyi.¡± At that moment, the young man felt true rage. Overwhelming the fury encountered during the battle with Tierlos, exceeding the anger during negotiations with the masked man, a rage born from within engulfed his reason, driving him to lash out recklessly at the man. ¡°Get lost¡ª!¡± Xu Junyi¡¯s knee collided with his stomach. ¡°Stop monologuing! You¡¯re not the only survivor from the giant dragon phenomenon!!¡± At the same time, the enraged young man smashed his fist onto the enemy¡¯s face. Chapter 49 - 49 30 Illusion and Reality ?49: Chapter 30: Illusion and Reality 49: Chapter 30: Illusion and Reality ¡°¡ª¡ª!¡± The young man¡¯s body was sent flying high into the air. Gongsun Ce had made a recklessly rash decision. According to the battle plan set before the fight began, he intended to provoke the enemy into losing their cool with taunts and then, while maintaining as much distance as possible, use the ammunition in his gauntlets to wear down the enemy¡¯s stamina. Indeed, though he hadn¡¯t touched the parts in the factory, he now had ammunition¡­ but now, all preparations were in vain. The Superpower User, whose mind was scorched by rage, lost his calm. Battle plans, prior preparations¡ªthrow that all away. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Right now, he wanted to do only one thing: to smash his fist into the enemy¡¯s face! ¡°Cough ah!¡± Naturally, Xu Junyi wouldn¡¯t stand still and take the hit. As he twisted the man¡¯s nose with his punch, he also paid the price for his impetuous attack. Gongsun Ce¡¯s abdomen took a direct hit from the enemy¡¯s knee; the excessive force damaged his internal organs, causing the young man to involuntarily spit out a mouthful of blood. ¡°Foolish¡­!¡± Red blood sprayed onto the man¡¯s head; Xu Junyi stepped to the side, trying to dodge this dirty blinding tactic¡­ But Xu Junyi failed to evade the filthy blood before him and instead drew closer to it, for he was now restrained. Gongsun Ce¡¯s gauntlets were gripping his right fist tightly; as the young man fell backward, Xu Junyi¡¯s body was yanked forward along with him! ¡°Ah¡ª! You damn thing, let go!!¡± Under this unexpected turn of events, the middle-aged man¡¯s face was splattered with a layer of filthy blood. Blood flowed from the corner of his eye, obscuring half of his vision. Leaning on his gauntlets for support, the gray-haired young man, despite his serious injuries, still hadn¡¯t fallen directly. He gasped for air, a mess, and said, ¡°Take your words back. I won¡¯t let you insult those who fought the Evil Dragon¡­ I won¡¯t let you insult the heroes who protected everyone¡¯s lives!¡± ¡°You are the truly ignorant one, truly oblivious to everything!¡± His fist smashed into the abdomen. ¡°If gods are not stopped, nobody would have to truly die!¡± His fist struck the heart. ¡°It¡¯s because of your ignorant kind that a new world was impeded, and my family had to die¡ªah!!¡± After his fist hammered into the face, Xu Junyi¡¯s wrist was furiously bitten by the enraged youth. Biting. A move that would never appear in a formal fight, not only because it is unseemly but also due to the fact that the risk hardly matches the reward. Unless one can bite into critical areas like the throat, human teeth can only inflict minor pain¡­ even street fighters rarely bite to injure others! Yet, the youth did just that, his teeth sinking into the wrist, causing his adversary to howl in pain. Xu Junyi shook off his right fist, his left forearm exerting force, pulling his opponent into midair. ¡°Get lost¡ª!¡± Unexpectedly, Gongsun Ce clenched his eyes shut and, going with the momentum, headbutted! His forehead collided with Xu Junyi¡¯s nose. Glasses shattered in the violent impact, the broken pieces stabbing into both men¡¯s faces like knives! The middle-aged man roared furiously, ¡°Street-fighting tricks!¡± ¡°Street fighters are more honorable than you, a former Empire official¡­¡± Gongsun Ce lifted his head and rammed again, ¡°they understand what loyalty and shame mean!!¡± In the second collision, his glasses completely turned to fragments. The middle-aged man¡¯s nose bled profusely; his own face must¡¯ve also been a dirty mess. Another punch hit his chest, making the young man spit out blood and teeth once again. ¡°Huff¡­ Huff¡­¡± The youth panted in pain, ¡°Your family is already dead¡­ even if you could summon the Evil Dragon again, your family won¡¯t come back¡­!¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± His vision blurred. He could hear the man¡¯s voice, recognize the opponent¡¯s body, but couldn¡¯t see his facial expression clearly. It was a rash action, a reckless attack. Even his elder brother would scold him for this if he were here, Miss Alice or Miss Qin would also reprimand this meaningless fighting style. But, as long as one is human, there will always be something that cannot be compromised. What was the fight for, what had he been striving for up to now? Wasn¡¯t it to prevent tragedy from happening again, the reason he stood here! Therefore, he persisted, saying, ¡°The giant dragon is not a god! A life lost ten seconds ago can still be saved; a life lost ten hours ago can still hope for a miracle; but a life that passed away ten years ago has no possibility of coming back!¡± Even if uttering these words felt like stabbing a knife into his chest, he yelled at the man in defiance of everything. ¡°Not even a Creator Realm Mage could do it, not even the world¡¯s number one!!¡± Xu Junyi, screaming, raised his hand like a blade and chopped down on his right arm. ¡°Fuck! I said shut up!!¡± The forearm bent grotesquely from the middle, the human body twisted comically like putty; you didn¡¯t need to think to know the bone was broken, another hit like that and the arm would likely be completely torn off. At this point, pain became an element that could be ignored. Humans, when focused on something, will subconsciously ignore other influences. Like chess players absorbed in a game ignoring mosquitoes dancing over the board, like scholars engrossed in a book ignoring the noise around them, to him, now consumed by a towering rage, even pain became something that could be suppressed by emotion. How long could this state last? Would he fall after half a minute from the onslaught of pain, or crumble from exhaustion in a second? He couldn¡¯t think about these things. Gongsun Ce told himself, one who contemplates defeat before winning the battle, would surely fail in combat. He had made his decision, initiated the battle, now wasn¡¯t the time for regret and reflection¡­ what needed to be considered, was how to win. ¡°Let go of me!!!¡± The hand-chop came slashing down again, and if this strike were to land, his forearm would surely break into two pieces. Unbelievably, his palm still retained sensation, and Gongsun Ce released his gauntlet, aiming at the blurred figure in his eyes, ¡°Tear gas grenade.¡± The tear gas grenade built into the gauntlet was fired, and the young man used the recoil from its launch to dodge the hand-chop. But even with half of his field of vision impaired, the man wasn¡¯t struck by the sudden tear gas grenade; the silver-white ammunition hadn¡¯t even exploded before it was blasted to one side by the punch, only leaving behind a trace of irritating white smoke. ¡°Why can¡¯t you understand¡­ Why must you ignorant fools obstinately stand in my way!¡± Xu Junyi¡¯s towering figure emerged from the white smoke. The youth, deprived of his glasses, couldn¡¯t make out his facial expression, but he could sense his opponent¡¯s madness from the beast-like roar of his words. ¡°The Colored glaze Dragon I will summon has power to bring everything! He is a true selfless and kind savior, he will recreate all! I will be able to see my departed family again, and you will be able to find again the people and things you¡¯ve lost. In the world of Kong Hua, everyone can find happiness!¡± What was he talking about? That dragon phenomena could bring happiness was something even he, who lived in the City of the Skies, had never heard. That must be the knowledge he obtained from the giant dragon. That was the man¡¯s understanding of the giant dragon, the spiritual pillar that supported him to step forward, all the way to today. In the brief moment of the showdown, the two men couldn¡¯t lie¡ªwhat he spoke was doubtlessly the truth. ¡ªIt was the undoubted truth that the man believed in. However, just, just. The silver-haired youth standing against him was also a survivor of the dragon phenomena. He too had memories of the dragon¡¯s truth. Gongsun Ce¡¯s own eyewitness account was the absolute truth. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you obtained from the Disaster of the Skies,¡± the youth pushed himself off the ground with the gauntlet, unsteadily standing up, ¡°But I have to tell you, three years ago in the Country, the most lives were taken by the very Colored glaze Disaster you pray for!¡± The man¡¯s movements came to a halt. ¡°What¡­¡± The young man excruciatingly dug into his own memories. He crossed the gray mist of dreams, the ash mist that formed after human flesh had dissolved, and arrived at the finale of the Country¡¯s collapse. Emerging from the gradually dissipating ash mist, the golden behemoth with three heads and ten wings. The crystalline structures that extended in all directions from beneath it, clear and lustrous like colored glaze. And then, those who were encased in crystal, merging with the ground, stone, and wood, transforming into sculptures that were both terrifying and beautiful¡­ The wilted lives. ¡°They¡¯re all dead! Either turned into mindless statues, or shattered together with the buildings and crystals, everyone assimilated by the Colored glaze Disaster died!¡± He recounted the scene he¡¯d witnessed with his own eyes, and an emotion different from the physical damage emerged from within, a mental anguish, ¡°The moment humans were eroded by the Colored glaze Disaster, they forever lost their lives! We couldn¡¯t save anyone¡­ We couldn¡¯t bring back a single person!!!¡± Xu Junyi stood there, stunned. ¡°Impossible¡­ You deceitful brat, you¡¯re tricking me¡­¡± Like stepping into the void at the edge of a precipice, he now felt the sensation of weightlessness, as if his spirit were plummeting into a bottomless abyss, falling endlessly, seeing no end in sight. What was this sensation? During these ten years, he had always been guided by the God in his heart and never felt such a thing; what was it exactly? Could it be fear? Impossible! The Colored glaze Dragon was truly a loving and magnificent deity, the reality he had seen ten years ago. Its power would grant humans the Eternal Life without pain and sorrow; in its world, everyone could have all they wished for. Why would he, Xu Junyi, have any reason to fear, why would he believe the lies of this boy¡ª ¡°Have you forgotten, Xu Junyi? The Desolate Form is your world; I can¡¯t tell lies here!¡± That¡¯s right, he remembered. This wasn¡¯t the real world; this was his Desolate Form manifested, an arena of fair combat, where¡­ No lies were permitted. ¡°Impossible. Impossible¡­ It¡¯s you who are delusional, you are just damn dreaming!¡± It had to be so. There was no other explanation. His goal, which he had striven for until now, the God that inspired him to come this far, couldn¡¯t possibly be false¡­! ¡°No way!!!¡± Not even a technique, not even a skill, just a desperate man swinging his fists, wanting to shatter the slumbering mirage conjured by his opponent in broad daylight. The Superpower User raised his right fist toward him, the crimson red gauntlet aimed straight at his body. ¡°Sand bullet.¡± In the next moment, inside the combat arena where firearms and ammunition did not exist, the middle-aged man¡¯s abdomen was pierced by a jet-black bullet. Chapter 50 - 50 31 Fight to the Death ?50: Chapter 31: Fight to the Death 50: Chapter 31: Fight to the Death Gongsun Ce¡¯s mechanical gauntlets could be filled with tiny metal projectiles to fire as bullets, a fact both parties well knew before the battle began. Because of this, the giant dragon worshippers were completely unguarded against him. He had checked the site before the battle commenced, and all materials that could serve as bullets had been placed inside the factory building. The young man who had burst onto the construction site at the start of the battle had no means of refilling ammunition. Now, however, he found himself wounded by bullets. The injuries he had sustained from being hit by a dump truck earlier combined to force a mouthful of blood from the man. ¡°Cough¡ª!¡± Had he been in the real world, being a Desolate FormMage meant he would not sustain real damage from such trivial attacks, but this was the world he himself had longed for. The rules of the momentary battleground greatly suppressed even his power, and at this moment, Xu Junyi, despite having a body far superior to that of his opponent, could be wounded by tactics that used to pose no threat! It must have been the young man¡¯s absurd ramblings that had distracted him, Xu Junyi thought, and allowed him to fall victim to such a laughable attack. Yes, that must be the reason, but what he couldn¡¯t comprehend was¡­ Xu Junyi roared in anger, ¡°Where did you get the bullets?!¡± ¡°Where? Right inside the truck you smashed just now. You seem to have missed it, but among the cargo of that dump truck, only a portion was construction sand for camouflage¡­¡± The young man with grey hair reached down, grabbing a handful of sand and gravel from the ground. Xu Junyi watched as the sand and gravel fell from his unsteady hands, a mix of earthy yellow and jet-black particles. The iron sand obtained after crushing iron ore, useful as ballast in concrete. ¡°This is¡ª!¡± Gongsun Ce reflexively tried to push up his glasses, only now, his frames were nothing but twisted metal, and he himself was running out of energy. ¡°It¡¯s iron sand. A few scattered grains would have little effect, but in large quantities, they could serve as ammunition for the gauntlets. This is no trap, just something in the environment you failed to notice.¡± With his vision now hopelessly blurred, the enemy appeared before him as nothing more than a rough human outline. He could barely distinguish the color of clothing, and finer details were lost to him. That the last two sand bullets had hit was thanks not just to the man losing his cool and exposing weaknesses, but also to a bit of good luck on his part. Looking at it another way, this was also a benefit. Unable to see the opponent¡¯s expression, he felt no psychological burden as he spoke provocatively. Gongsun Ce said with a smile, ¡°Do you regret it now? Never expected to exploit such a loophole, did you? If you had known, you wouldn¡¯t have manifested, but would have fought it out with some other Extraordinary Ability, right?¡± He laughed awkwardly, an ugly chuckle. ¡°But rest assured, your decision wasn¡¯t wrong. It¡¯s only in your so-called fair duel that you could have fought until now¡ªcough!¡± Even as he spoke, blood spattered from his mouth, and though his face was smeared with blood, he still flashed a confident smile at his enemy. ¡°In a real fight in the real world, you would have been knocked down by me already!¡± The leader of the giant dragon worshippers let out a roar like a wild beast. ¡°I won¡¯t listen to your nonsensical rambling anymore!!!¡± The burly man lunged forward. Gongsun Ce stood his ground, firing a third sand bullet. The iron sand projectile was disrupted mid-flight by the man¡¯s fist, scattering black dust into the air. ¡°It¡¯s time to wake up from your own world, Xu Junyi,¡± his tone was both provocative and persuasive, ¡°Cough¡­ You cling to your own sense of justice, refusing to open your eyes to the reality in front of you!¡± ¡°What do you know, you brat who hasn¡¯t even practiced the Impermanence Skill!¡± A fourth sand bullet was fired at close range, easily dodged by Xu Junyi. The middle-aged man kicked out, and he rolled on the ground awkwardly in an attempt to evade. ¡°The vessel for your ability is the battleground, your wish is for a fair duel, but in the end, you¡¯re the only one setting the rules. You think winning a fistfight would make others obey you? Cut the crap, it¡¯s nothing but a one-sided threat of violence! There¡¯s not a trace of fairness in your battle, just your disdain for Extraordinary Abilities and your own wishful thinking!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± The fifth bullet was not fired in time. Xu Junyi lifted his sturdy right leg, kicking towards his head. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Forced to shield his face with his hands, the young man was, inevitably, sent flying several meters away by the kick. His left arm likely broke as well; now he couldn¡¯t even support his right arm to fire the bullets. Could a human limb really bend in such a strange angle? Amazingly, even under these circumstances, he found himself thinking such things, which probably meant there was something wrong with his head too. ¡°Whenever your opponent gains an advantage with clever thinking, you dismiss it as cunning! Unable to refute when your true thoughts are pointed out, you just tell people to shut up like a child! Why do you look so miserable?¡± The young man continued to speak, about the abilities he had seen, about the enemy in his eyes. ¡°Because you yourself know very well¡­ you understand better than anyone that this world you¡¯ve manifested is meaningless, just as you know in your heart that summoning the giant dragon won¡¯t save anyone!¡± ¡°Damn it, I told you to shut up!!!¡± A sweeping kick sent Gongsun Ce flying through the air like a ragdoll. ¡°Die! Just die!!¡± Another furious punch was thrown, and the young man¡¯s body crushed into a mound of sand several meters away. Chapter 51 - 51 31 Fight to the Death_2 ?51: Chapter 31: Fight to the Death_2 51: Chapter 31: Fight to the Death_2 The enraged man hadn¡¯t used any techniques; it was merely a blow struck with pure physical strength, pure violence. And that power was enough to kill a human, or at least render them unconscious. With such a heavy hit, his enemy had no reason not to fall. The young man should have been dead already. ¡°Heh¡­ Your punches and kicks¡­ don¡¯t even hurt as much as a college girl¡¯s!¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Defying all logic. An extraordinary event that should not be occurring. The silver-haired youth, covered in scars, who should have already been dead, whose arms used to muster strength were both broken, an enemy who should not have any power left to resist. Stood up once again. Xu Junyi couldn¡¯t help but yell, ¡°You have no chance of winning!¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lost!¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± ¡°After all this, why do you still stand in my way!!¡± He looked as if a single breath of wind would knock him over, as if even taking his next breath was becoming difficult. Yet, despite that, the young man still stood. Dragging his powerless arms, he stumbled step by step towards his enemy. He began to speak something, his voice so faint it was almost swallowed by the wind. ¡°¡­Even if I fail here, things won¡¯t change much.¡± ¡°You?!¡± ¡°Miss Alice will still fight you¡­ If she loses, Mr. Shiyu will be your opponent, Miss Qin might come as well, and that annoying man¡­ Plus others I don¡¯t know about, who are lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity, people who choose not to get involved in this incident for some reason.¡± One step at a time, moving forward. Headed towards an unbeatable enemy. ¡°There are many more people in the City of the Heavens; there will always be someone to stop you¡­ But what if they fail? What if they don¡¯t make it in time? You said that those who fail in this duel will have to obey your orders. I am very strong¡­ Even if there¡¯s just a one in ten thousand chance, with my Superpower¡¯s assistance, if you really succeed¡­ S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What kind of danger will the people of this city face?¡± After all, he had stepped into chaos for that one in ten thousand chance of the ¡°giant dragon summoning.¡± It was the same now. To prevent that one in ten thousand chance from coming true, he had to bet everything just for that reason. Gongsun Ce declared firmly, ¡°I can¡¯t bear to witness so many lives lost, even if it¡¯s just a one in ten thousand chance¡­ So I must stop you here¡­ Even if I lose here and die in reality, I will bet my life to stop you!¡± The middle-aged man was at a loss for words. No longer knowing what to say. The thought was far beyond the limits of common sense. Compared to praying for God¡¯s intervention, the enemy before him seemed even more insane. Xu Junyi remembered the young man¡¯s identity. Gongsun Ce was a Superpower User. He had heard people say that the youth with supernatural abilities, even though they appeared ordinary on the surface, were all maladjusted individuals who couldn¡¯t fit into normal society. He had once thought that was just the prejudice of the world, but now he truly believed it. He realized in the young man¡¯s world, only death equaled failure; as long as they had the breath to breathe, a Superpower User would stand up again, blocking his path. ¡°Fine.¡± With that, the leader of the giant dragon worshippers clenched his fists, gathering strength. ¡°You go die.¡± He was about to use the secret skill he had mastered once again. Mobilizing the power within his body, despite his serious injuries, would worsen his wounds, but the man had already abandoned all concerns. He couldn¡¯t endure such a torturous fight any longer; he was determined to kill his opponent in the shortest time possible, with a fatal blow! ¡°Huff¡­¡± Gongsun Ce breathed heavily with a sense of desolation. He was more aware of his condition than anyone else. The sensation that made him forget the pain, like a fleeting dream, was gradually fading, and the forgotten pain was slowly being reclaimed. Being able to stand up to his opponent until now was nothing short of a miracle wrought by his willpower. One more strike, one more injury, and he would truly die. He had only one card left in his hand. Was there a chance? The youth asked himself. Was there a chance to play that card? He couldn¡¯t find it. Even now, his arms were broken, lacking the strength even to play the card. Meanwhile, as he thought, he also walked forward, the distance between the two was about 2 meters, and he could vaguely see the preparatory motion before the opponent¡¯s punch. Whether it was a pre-death hallucination, he felt the posture looked familiar, as if he had just seen the exact same move not long before. Countless signs could indicate an incoming attack. He remembered something someone had once said. And what to do after that? Knowing the attack the opponent was about to make, his own next move¡­ ¡°¡­¡± An idea sprang up in his mind. Without considering its feasibility, he used all the remaining strength in his body to put the plan, which hardly even qualified as a plan, into action. ¡°Qin Secret Skill Hidden Strike!¡± The giant dragon worshipper launched a decisive strike. It was the most profound martial art he had learned, delivering power directly into the opponent¡¯s body, smashing internal organs and bones, a deadly martial art that destroyed from within! With this punch, Gongsun Ce¡¯s life would be utterly shattered, ensuring the detestable enemy would never stand again¡ªbut in the instant the fist was thrown, the situation abruptly changed! Xu Junyi¡¯s punch grazed the corner of a garment, and as if tripped mid-path, the youth¡¯s body fell forward. Hidden Strike missed, and the young man¡¯s shoulder collided with the man¡¯s forearm. This weak attack didn¡¯t harm Xu Junyi but turned Gongsun Ce in another direction. Allowing his gloved hand, poised right at Xu Junyi¡¯s chest. ¡°Heavy Light Fist.¡± A flicker of light filled the giant dragon worshipper¡¯s eyes. The twinkling fire burst forth from behind the red gloves. At point-blank range, inescapable in such close quarters, Gongsun Ce¡¯s glove shot out, hammered into the enemy¡¯s chest, and the red flash sent the man¡¯s body flying into the air! The Superpower User fell to the ground from the recoil of the launching glove, now truly drained of every ounce of strength. ¡°I told you before¡­¡± the silver-haired youth looked up at the dusty sky, ¡°this thing can be launched like a missile.¡± From the other end of the construction site came the thunderous sound of a heavy object hitting the ground. Hit by a dump truck, pierced through the abdomen by a sand bullet, and then smashed by a flying punch powerful enough to break through a bank vault door¡ªif all that had still not defeated the opponent, he had no other options left. Gongsun Ce breathed slowly in the sand, as if approaching the dreamy state before entering slumber, yet he dared not close his eyes. Whether seconds or minutes passed, when he could barely hold on any longer, he noticed the colors fading from his surroundings, and the feel of sand and rock beneath him disappeared. Gongsun Ce closed his eyes with a sense of peace. In the unpredictable duel of life and death, the winner was Gongsun Ce. Chapter 52 - 52 32 The End ?52: Chapter 32 The End 52: Chapter 32 The End ¡°Ah?!¡± Alice Adar couldn¡¯t help but let out a cry of surprise. A Superpower User used their powers to attack, moving themselves into the enemy¡¯s shadow to stab with a short arrow as both initiated their ambush¡­ The battle was supposed to start this way. However, when the dragon worshipper used his Manifestation afterward, the situation developed in an unforeseen direction. Her short arrow stabbed at empty air, and the man in the trench coat and the Superpower User vanished simultaneously. It was the enemy¡¯s Impermanence Skill. Alice quickly concluded that some mechanism she didn¡¯t yet understand had taken the two men out of reality, and roughly judging from the name of the manifestation, it was likely an ability that initiated a mandatory duel. ¡°Ah¡­?¡± The blue-haired woman blinked. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In just the blink of an eye, the dragon worshipper and the Superpower User reappeared before her. Had their positions not changed, Alice might have thought she was hallucinating. The man in the trench coat now laid face up on the ground, while an unscathed Gongsun Ce was propping himself up on his knees, catching his breath frantically. Had the duel ended? Had the Superpower User won? She was confused by everything that had occurred in a flash. Alice quickly approached the two men, asking alertly, ¡°What happened?¡± Broken limbs, ruptured internal organs, the pain that assaulted him from all parts of his body had all vanished. His glasses were intact, perfectly positioned on his face, allowing him to see the man¡¯s expression clearly. ¡°What happened?¡± The young man, still catching his breath, didn¡¯t wait to respond, addressing the dragon worshipper as soon as he regained the ability to speak, ¡°Don¡¯t make any moves.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Junyi lay on the ground, silent, not even blinking. The Superpower User then said, ¡°Just say one word, tell me what item or method you planned to use to summon the dragon.¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s voice was hoarse as he replied, ¡°The eye of the Netherworld Dragon.¡± ¡°Is that the only one?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only one.¡± ¡°Where is it?¡± ¡°In my right hand.¡± ¡°Open your right hand, and then don¡¯t make any more sound.¡± Xu Junyi slowly opened his right hand. He was unwilling to follow the enemy¡¯s order, but having lost in the duel¡­ the power of the impermanent duel session firmly bound him, and for the rest of the day, he couldn¡¯t resist the victor¡¯s commands nor cause any problem to him. In the dragon worshipper¡¯s calloused palm lay a glass bead. It clung to a wooden splinter, a fragment that appeared to be from some handicraft that had been smashed. ¡°¡­!¡± On seeing the object, Gongsun Ce forgot to breathe. He could never forget the significance of that glass bead, nor could he forget the day he first saw it. The nightmare that never left since the incident three years ago, reappeared each time to remind him of what happened that day. The seven bell towers amidst the gray fog, the wooden cuckoo jumping out of the clock face, which summoned the Netherworld Dragon¡­ From that moment, things truly became irreversible. Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo¡­ the sound of the cuckoo echoed in his mind, and past memories resurfaced. Without needing any expert¡¯s verification, he knew the identity of the object in his hand. This was the eye of the wooden cuckoo from three years ago. The eye of the Netherworld Dragon. The young man gripped the glass bead tightly, the wooden splinters digging into his palm, the pain snapping him back to reality. Gongsun Ce turned to the still puzzled Hunter and said, ¡°It¡¯s over, Miss Alice. I¡¯ve defeated the dragon worshipper, and I¡¯ve found the crucial catalyst too.¡± Alice looked from the fallen man to the Superpower User, doing so several times. ¡°¡ªReally?! You beat a Desolate Form Mage of the Manifestation Realm in one-on-one combat?!¡± She then let out an incredulous exclamation. The Superpower User adjusted his glasses, ¡°His Impermanence Skill must be quite special. The blessing-and-curse duel in the Mysterious Space forces a one-on-one close combat fight where neither can use supernatural abilities. It was indeed a disadvantageous battle; it took a lot of effort to secure victory.¡± ¡°Without superpowers, you really are useless¡­¡± ¡°Rather, praise my exceptional cunning. That fight was truly perilous, and if he hadn¡¯t lost his senses midway, the scene here would be quite ugly.¡± Think about it. If he had lost in the duel just now, the loser compelled to follow commands would have become himself. In that case, the scenario would shift to Gongsun Ce and Xu Junyi attacking Alice together. That would be an awfully bad situation; lucky for him that he won. The Hunter shook her head, still seeming confused about the current situation: ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this later, let¡¯s address the urgent matter first, the medium you mentioned is¡­?!¡± Before she could finish, the Hunter¡¯s voice rose. The Superpower User looked in the direction of her gaze. A sphere floating in the center of this space was flashing green light at an astonishingly fast rate. The shadows of the giant dragon continuously surged towards the sphere, merging as luminescent green dots into the ball, which resembled the heart of a giant dragon. All the shadows disappeared, and the tubes around the sphere also detached from the core. The planetary-like object moved further and further away from the two, colliding with the end of the space, consumed by the biotic-looking walls, disappearing from their sight. The grand spectacle lasted less than five seconds, the Superpower User, and the Hunter had only managed to move forward a few steps before the green celestial body moved away from their sight. Chapter 53 - 53 32 Endgame_2 ?53: Chapter 32 Endgame_2 53: Chapter 32 Endgame_2 The two faced each other. Alice tentatively said, ¡°¡­emergency defense mechanism?¡± ¡°No wonder the powers that be in the Vaulted Sky city could so leisurely observe. Any way you look at it, the ritual seemed to need the heart of a dragon¡ªI assume it¡¯s a heart¡ªto be conducted. Yet these people had the nerve to keep this trick up their sleeve until now. Even I¡¯m at a loss for words.¡± Gongsun Ce gave a bitter smile, ¡°It seems that they finally made an emergency decision just now, hiding the dragon¡¯s heart at some expense¡­ This is really, it¡¯s simply doing unpaid labor for the big shots!¡± Alice was still looking in the direction where the dragon¡¯s heart had disappeared, apparently deeply shocked by the actions of the high-ups in the Vaulted Sky city. He chuckled, shaking his head, thinking this was good. Everything was under the control of the powers that be; his worries were indeed nothing but unnecessary concerns. Perhaps someone he didn¡¯t know benefitted from this incident; his running around all day seemed to have been meaningless, all the precautions he had taken useless. But the giant dragon would not appear in the Vaulted Sky city, and Xu Junyi and the others¡¯ wild dreams were just that¡ªdreams. The residents of this city were able to safely get through an ordinary night. That was good enough. The Superpower User thought contentedly, that was all that mattered. The official handling by the city signaled a consensus reached by the higher-ups of the three countries on this matter, so the probability of other experts coming to snatch the glass bead was small. Thus, the glass bead in his hand would have to be dealt with by some distasteful man, and he would have to find a way to explain this to Alice¡­ but before that, after a hard day¡¯s work, it was time for the two of them to rest. After getting out from underground, they¡¯d find a place to have a late-night snack, chat a bit before parting ways. The young lady in a mask might come too, which would be just the occasion to treat her to the dessert he owed her¡­ And then tomorrow, he would figure out a way to settle his own matters with Yan Qi¡­ The Superpower User sighed in relief; he could finally escape from the tension that had persisted for half a day. Gongsun Ce called out to his companion, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Miss Alice!¡± Alice sighed helplessly, ¡°What¡¯s all this about! Just my luck that the leader of the dragon worshippers has this kind of ability, and just now they tell me that thing can be moved swiftly. This last-minute irrelevant grand magic trick is really¡­ I don¡¯t even know what to say¡­¡± He could completely understand her feelings. They had prepared for a decisive battle, but their adversary¡¯s ability was a mandatory one-on-one duel; they had almost been crushed by the imminent sense of catastrophe, only to learn in the end that everything was under the control of the higher-ups. Though it¡¯s often said that the journey is more important than the destination, such an outcome really left them speechless. Gongsun Ce shrugged, ¡°Think of it on the bright side, as long as the outcome is good, there¡¯s no problem.¡± ¡°Well, forget it, just like you said, as long as the outcome is good, there¡¯s no problem!¡± Alice turned around and smiled cheerily at him, ¡°This is finally over, and I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re not dead!¡± She reached out her hand as if to high-five her companion. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡± Gongsun Ce raised his right arm smiling. To his surprise, Alice¡¯s palm passed through his arm. Her fingertips, protruding from the fingerless gloves, touched the young man¡¯s chest. The sharp nails pierced through the clothing, broke the skin, and her palm reached deep into his body, grabbing the pulsing red flesh. And then. Alice¡¯s arm went right through the young man¡¯s chest. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± He stood there, stupefied. Warm liquid flowed from his mouth and the scent of blood filled his nostrils. His thoughts began to slow at this moment¡ªwas this the effect of someone¡¯s ability? The young man couldn¡¯t understand what had just happened. Alice was supposed to tell him something, he looked bewilderedly at the woman facing him. Her smile was the same as usual, not very composed, but friendly, reliable. ¡°Without being able to touch the heart of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky, I had to use yours as a substitute. After all, this is the real reason why you Superpower Users are called ticking time bombs.¡± The blue-haired woman withdrew her arm. It seemed as if something vitally important had vanished from within his body. Gongsun Ce stared at the palm of his hand, where in the center of the bloodstained glove, lay a lump of flesh that throbbed slowly. He realized what it was. That was his own heart. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for your help, I could never have made it this far.¡± Just like when they had reached an agreement, just like when they celebrated a victory after the battle, the Hunter bestowed upon him a beautiful smile. ¡°Really, truly, thank you, Gongsun Ce!¡± He couldn¡¯t understand. What exactly had happened? He had just been pondering whether to invite her to a celebration after this. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Being a Hunter wasn¡¯t exactly a reputable job. With a hefty reward in his pocket, this opportunity to change careers didn¡¯t seem too bad. Then she could buy the house she wanted and live a better, safer life. The Dragon of the Vaulted Sky was actually not a bad place either. If Miss Alice planned to stay in this city for a while, he could introduce her to his friends. She was easy to get along with, and everyone would enjoy chatting with her¡­ But why. Why did things turn out this way after it all ended? ¡°Alice¡­¡± Confusion and bewilderment spun around in his body, finding no answers, and thus turned into rage. ¡°Alice Adar!!¡± Wild telekinesis sparked a storm in the underground space. Exerting the last of his strength, he shot invisible spikes towards his once partner¡ª ¡°The abilities of those beneath me cannot touch me.¡± As if stating something self-evident, she spoke indifferently. Gongsun Ce¡¯s final attack dissipated silently under that declaration. The young man had no strength left. In the final moment, he thought about the heart being the source of a Superpower User¡¯s power¡­ It wasn¡¯t a mere showdown in a blink of an eye but a real fight in life, and he had truly suffered a fatal blow. Before he could utter another word, the grey-haired Superpower User fell. He collapsed to the ground, looking up at the Hunter who had once been his companion with a vacant gaze. ¡°Before we part, let me tell you something that will make you happy. As we agreed, I will tell you my true name after everything is done.¡± He saw her lustrous blue hair lose its color, darkening like the pitch of night. Alice caressed her face with her hand. Her features underwent slight changes, and her pupils turned black, looking completely different than before. Now she seemed elegant and serene, like a delicate woman who belonged in a library. He had seen this face before. Where, exactly where? The last fragment that surfaced in his fading consciousness was from a photograph that had appeared in the news, a major bloodbath in the eastern part of Zero Island, an incident that annihilated the Shiyu Research Institute¡­ The black-haired woman bent down and picked up the glass beads from his hand. She whispered to Gongsun Ce. ¡°My real name is Shiyu Ling.¡± She stood up, flipping her long hair and turned her back on the young man as she left. Only her final words drifted in the lifeless space. ¡°Farewell, Superpower User.¡± Chapter 54 - 54 33 Colored Glaze Disaster ?54: Chapter 33 Colored Glaze Disaster 54: Chapter 33 Colored Glaze Disaster Tap, tap. Light footsteps echoed in the underground space, as leather boots splashed through the blood flowing on the ground, scattering crimson droplets. ¡°How ridiculous, you have already mastered the top Resonance Source and the energy of tearing realms, yet you still waste time on useless efforts¡­ You don¡¯t even know what purpose your own Array serves.¡± Shiyu Ling stepped over the body of a Superpower User and reached the center of the underground space. The giant dragon worshiper, unable to move due to his defeat, lay on the ground, watching those leather boots step towards him. Now he had consciousness, could think, but was unable to utter any sound, making him the best listener in the world. ¡°There are also different kinds among giant dragons, and the Array you¡¯ve drawn is derived from the regrets of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky¡­ huh, how could that possibly summon the Colored Glaze Dragon?¡± Bai Zhan¡¯s fingers picked a glass bead off a wooden piece. She looked at the poor-quality bead and smiled with satisfaction. ¡°I, who should have left the scene early, have actually made it here. Looking back, it feels like a dream.¡± Delighted by her good fortune. Content with her success. Her lips exhaled an eager breath. Her black eyes were brimming with self-adoration. Everything was progressing in the direction she had hoped for. Throughout history, the power that many have dreamed of and humans could not obtain, the eternal glow, was now in her hands. She had finally completed her great achievement. For a brief moment, not even lasting a few seconds, Shiyu Ling couldn¡¯t help but indulge in her memories, recalling every little detail of her journey. ¡¤ Alice Adar, the Hunter of the Country, had never existed from the beginning. It was just a convenient fake identity. Utilizing official personnel¡¯s intelligence network, she could easily keep up with the progress of capturing Shiyu Ling. As an official, she could also naturally dispel any suspicions about herself. If the actor playing the role was skilled, then the false identity could become a ¡°real¡± person in reality. She made herself Alice, becoming a Hunter of the Country. Everything started from the perspective of Alice, deciding as a hunter would at this point, acting as a hunter¡¯s personality would dictate¡­ A young hunter, who was still in the gray area three years ago, adopting some unconventional yet effective methods during missions made sense, didn¡¯t it? Thus, upon learning of the giant dragon worshipers¡¯ plans, she reported to the Country immediately; thus, upon receiving orders to continue the pursuit, she faithfully carried them out; thus, when isolated and without help, she chose to cooperate with the Superpower Users who got involved. The reason was simple. Because that¡¯s how a Hunter of the Country should act. This way, no one would doubt her motives or identity. Even if she plunged into the vortex, no one would connect Alice with Shiyu Ling. Alice Adar was just a Hunter in the Divine Communication Realm. She had no reason to single-handedly defeat experts from other nations, and likely would have fallen in the battle against the evil spellcasters¡­ It was only natural for her to be the first to leave the fierce battle. Alice Adar would depart after completing her mission, and Shiyu Ling would also stay away from the conflicts, ending everything¡­ That was what should have happened. ¡¤ ¡°Hahaha, hahaha¡­ Hahahaha! Really, really, I never imagined it myself! I had already given up this opportunity, it was just supposed to be an act, planning to leave after the subsequent battle, but you, with such vast Divine Skills, actually brought Alice of the Divine Communication Realm to the underground! I trust you, Gongsun Ce. Such a mighty person as you, in the end, surely could lend me a helping hand again!¡± Shiyu Ling lifted up a fresh heart. Human blood dripped from her hands. ¡°Thousands of flowers blossom, a fair shade overturns the nation.¡± A delicate white emerged amidst the red liquid. Tender green stems sprouted from the blood, supporting yellow stamens and pristine petals, a pure white narcissus blooming beside Shiyu Ling. ¡°Spiritual Image ¡¤ Manifest, Water Mirror Immortal Shadow within a hair¡¯s breadth of the far ends of the earth.¡± There was no longer any need to use the Brahma Form Skill to hide her identity. At this moment, a corner of Shiyu Ling¡¯s true Spiritual World appeared. Countless narcissuses burgeoned from nowhere, elegant flowers unfolding along a mystic trajectory, covering the charcoal scribblings, forming a starkly different pattern from before in the belly of the giant dragon, drawing another pristine Array. Shiyu Ling stood at the center of the Array, picking up the Netherworld Dragon¡¯s eye and gently pressing it into the motionless flesh in her hand. The woman with black hair let go of Gongsun Ce¡¯s heart. The piece of flesh neared the ground closer and closer, and just before it was about to be stained with dust¡­ It stopped falling. The lifeless heart began to beat again at this moment. ¡°So good¡­ Until the end, you are helping me.¡± In the woman¡¯s surprised sigh, the Superpower User¡¯s heart slowly floated upwards. Then. A clear light burst through the cityscape, illuminating the space within the giant dragon. The narcissuses faced the beam of light, shooting pure white force from their blooms. This force traced countless intricate patterns on the surface of the beam, resembling some ancient script. ¡°Come forth, Colored glaze Dragon. Merge with me¡­¡± She stepped forward, entering the beam of light, embracing the power before her. ¡°Make me a God.¡± ¡¤ Boom. A heavy thud like a heartbeat came from deep within the earth. The sound woke the sleeping citizens, causing the awake residents to be perplexed. Everyone in the City of the Vaulted Sky heard this sound, a resonation that came from deep beneath. They speculated about what could have happened, was it a fight between Superpower Users in the nearby neighborhood? Or was it another experimental mishap? ¡°It couldn¡¯t be an earthquake,¡± joked a street thug, wandering the roadside, prompting laughter from his companions. ¡°Impossible!¡± ¡°An airborne earthquake!¡± ¡°Did you take some strange drugs?¡± the young ones laughed using their superpowers to produce flames, ¡°huffing, it¡¯s the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky hiccuping!¡± ¡°The Dragon of the Vaulted Sky has long been dead, you fool!¡± Boom. But the noise of the thugs did not drown out the sounds from underground, those sounds like a drum being struck by a mallet. Their bodies trembled slightly, as if the drum mallet was hitting them as well. The Superpower Users shut their mouths, looking around. They saw everyone on the streets pale, everyone shaking. What the thugs didn¡¯t see was that almost all city dwellers exhibited the same behavior. ¡°It¡¯s not an illusion, huh?¡± ¡°Must have taken some strange drugs.¡± ¡°Hey, I say, we should head back early today.¡± They spoke with feigned calmness, trying to dispel the unease in their hearts. The initial speaker, a coward, said with a trembling voice, ¡°¡­The Dragon of the Vaulted Sky is long dead, right?¡± Boom boom. Boom boom. Boom boom. The sounds from underground grew louder and quicker, and they dropped to the ground involuntarily, teeth chattering, bodies sweating coldly, nearly losing the strength even to talk. Why is this happening? The citizens realized they were afraid, too afraid to walk, terrified to the point of nearly forgetting how to breathe. There was no reason; despite seeing nothing, why is this happening? Why is this¡­ The coward¡¯s earlier words echoed in their minds, The Dragon of the Vaulted Sky is long dead, right? Of course, the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky was long gone, nothing should make humans so weak. Unless, unless it was¡­ ¡°Wuu wu, waa¡­¡± People on the streets made inarticulate noises, trying to say something yet failing to speak. They scanned their surroundings, looking for something reassuring¡ªpolicemen, university professors, biochemical carriages, anything at all. But they found nothing, only seeing others just as panicked as themselves. Everything was clear, as if it was noon. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But it was night, why was there a bright light? People slowly raised their heads. The moonless night sky was as bright as day. The people on the dragon¡¯s back could not comprehend the scene before them. If one could escape the bonds of gravity, break free from the cradle of the atmosphere, and reach the dark cosmos, only then could they understand what had happened. Seconds ago, a crack had appeared above their inhabited planet. It covered about one-seventh of the water-blue planet¡¯s surface; if a giant the size of the city looked through the crack, they could see specks of light, like a starry sky. A Colored glaze-colored brilliance poured forth. The untraceable rift closed, replaced by an equally large crystal-clear vortex of light. Compared to the vortex itself, a weak beam of light descended from the sky. It broke through the surface of the City of the Vaulted Sky, blasting a circle ten meters in diameter at the intersection of the Central and Thorn Districts, right before the eyes of the thugs. Should this be called a miracle? No, this was a true miracle, with no one getting hurt; the bystanders originally standing within the range of the light were gently pushed to the sides by some force. ¡°Aah¡­¡± But no one expressed joy of having survived the ordeal. All eyes were fixed on the center of the vortex, on the entity emerging from the other end of the beam. It was a giant lifeform of golden color. From the vortex, it protruded its majestic head with three elongated necks, followed by a massive body covered in dazzling scales, eight hand-like claws, and a tail as sharp as a spear. Its body was as massive as mountains; its scales, more beautiful than any precious metal. People laying on the ground looked up at its arrival, their eyes revealing an uncontrollable yearning and feeling a strange sense of fulfillment. As if gazing at their own dreams, as if seeing the end of their desires, as if all of creation¡¯s cravings crystallized, like every mad fantasy, every illusion, every yearned-for thing had taken form! What a terrifying yet dazzling lifeform! ¡°¡ª¡ª!¡± It raised its head, letting out an earth-shattering roar, ten transparent wings unfurling from behind, nearly covering the entire sky. People engulfed in illusions were jolted awake by this sound; they finally realized what was happening, uttering broken whispers. ¡°The dragon has come¡­¡± Whether Superpower Users or ordinary people, all residents lost their distinctions of identity and age at that moment; they cried and stumbled forward, screaming in terror at life¡¯s final moments. ¡°The Dragon Disaster has arrived!!!¡± Only a very few people sat dazed on the spot, staring at the giant dragon in the sky. They found the dragon¡¯s form curious; although they had never seen a giant dragon before, a sense of dissonance lingered in their minds. Like a statue missing an arm, a painting that had faded, a creation that seemed to lack something, what could it be¡­ As this thought occurred, a clear flash swallowed everything. Those who didn¡¯t have the time to escape, those desperately running, all were devoured by the giant dragon¡¯s power, turned into lifeless crystals. In this transparent world, only one life remained. February 13, 9:59:34 PM. The Colored glaze Disaster had descended. Chapter 55 - 55 34 World Cage ?55: Chapter 34: World, Cage 55: Chapter 34: World, Cage Cangshou District, on the 66th floor of the Dragon Head International Integrated Office Building, Liu Zhongwu planted his hands firmly on the table and roared at everyone. ¡°All staff on level-one battle readiness! Confirm the phenomenon of the giant dragon!¡± The large screen in the meeting room displayed the true identity of the Dragon Disaster, the body of the Colored Glaze Dragon. ¡°Comparison of intelligence complete, actual destruction mode matches the source of disaster seen in the Country exactly, preliminary confirmation that it¡¯s the resurgence of the Supibia No. 2 Dragon Disaster. Similitude of the body is 58%, suspected that it has been interfered with during the manifestation process!¡± The analyst¡¯s report came from a corner of the meeting room, and he changed the screen to display a model of the giant dragon constructed based on eyewitness intelligence. A creature that looked bizarre and pitiable after being stripped of its resplendent power. It had three necks but only one head attached in the middle, the remaining two necks were each only half-length as if they were forcibly chopped off. Out of its eight clawed limbs, three were completely atrophied, half of its ten wings were shattered, leaving only skeletal remains. The most terrifying was its body¡ªthere was a giant cross-shaped wound on each side of its body, old wounds that had stripped nearly half of its flesh. Golden blood flowed out from them, just seeing this form was enough to make witnesses feel its agony. Director Liu stared at the dragon¡¯s appearance, ¡°No anomalies during manifestation, these are the wounds left by Supibia. No need for further confirmation, it¡¯s the Colored Glaze Disaster, report the actual destruction¡­¡± Onowell said urgently at his side, ¡°Rate of reality destruction and erosion speed!¡± ¡°Erosion speed slowed after the blast at manifestation, but still extremely fast, currently unable to predict exact values! 1 minute 40 seconds ago, the phenomenon of the giant dragon was observed, Thorn District¡¯s destruction area approximately 34%, central area around 23%. Calculating the standard resistance factors with Plan No. 02, it¡¯s estimated that complete destruction in the Capital of the Vaulted Sky will occur within at most thirty minutes! Reality destruction forms as a colored glaze crystalline body, which merges, reconstructs, and destroys after consuming organic life and merging with inorganic matter, fully consistent with observations from Supibia!¡± The screen switched to an aerial shot of the Capital of the Vaulted Sky, and when they saw that scene, everyone¡¯s movements at the meeting slowed down unconsciously. Displayed on the screen was a crystalline sea blooming like flowers. Centered on the dragon¡¯s body, the colored glaze crystalline spread in all directions, rapidly invading every inch of the Capital of the Vaulted Sky. The dragon¡¯s power engulfed both bungalows and skyscrapers, houses and academic establishments ¡ª the height of the buildings didn¡¯t influence the speed of erosion at all, everything touched by that radiance was coated with a layer of crystalline, turning bungalows into chunks of ore and skyscrapers into crystalline peaks. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And in the face of this power, humanity was seemingly powerless, the vast majority of residents couldn¡¯t even resist, becoming translucent statues while fleeing. A very few Superpower Users temporarily halted the spread of crystals with their powers, but before they could catch their breath, they were transformed into the same form as everyone else by the next flash of light. Through the surface of the crystals, one could still discern the expressions on the faces of the crystallized people: panic, despair, yet mixed with a fulfillment akin to desire granted. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± A sound of vomiting rang out in the meeting room, someone saw the scene and threw up. Onowell also felt his stomach churn, he leaned on the desk, groaning painfully: ¡°Too fast¡­ thirty minutes!¡± ¡°Too slow.¡± But what awaited him was the cold response of his friend. He lifted his head in disbelief and saw Liu Zhongwu pacing back and forth, mumbling, ¡°Supibia didn¡¯t have this much time¡­ It¡¯s not like the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky which you see once every two thousand years¡­ Even with severe injuries, it shouldn¡¯t be¡­!¡± Liu Zhongwu slapped the table, shouting, ¡°Look below the city!¡± The Capital of the Vaulted Sky floated above the national border between the Empire and the United States, below the city was the naturally-formed boundary of the Abinos Mountains, a vast and imposing uninhabited area spanning about 670,000 square kilometers. The analyst was initially confused, pausing before he finally understood his superior¡¯s intention. He nervously manipulated the monitoring, and when he saw the scene, he stammered: ¡°The Abinos Mountains¡­ around 58% destroyed¡­ the main peak completely ruined!¡± Everyone in the meeting room saw that terrifying scene. Colored glaze crystals rolled down from the mountain peak, changing the terrain at a speed multiple times faster than an avalanche, creating crystal peaks. Even without analysis by professionals, they could see, within ten minutes, the mountain range between the two countries would become the world¡¯s largest quartz mine. After the fall of the Abinos Mountains, the Colored Glaze Disaster would rush toward the two adjacent nations. Eroding everything in its path. ¡°Did they evacuate the residents of the mountain areas before?!¡± ¡°Checking¡­ all recorded residents were evacuated by 8:27 PM tonight.¡± ¡°Good¡­ good¡­¡± Director Liu wiped his forehead, relieved, and turned to ask: ¡°What about the academic institutions?¡± The dean¡¯s face was ashen, ¡°Emergency evacuation completed, but the automated defense system was triggered by mistake, there¡¯s a batch of uncontrollable missiles that will launch.¡± Director Liu sighed and waved his hand. ¡°Anyway, they won¡¯t be of any use, don¡¯t bother.¡± Ten seconds later, people saw tens and hundreds of light fires streaking toward the giant dragon in the sky, each trajectory ending with ¡°conventional¡± missiles developed by Central United University. The ¡°conventional¡± weapons of the men in lab coats were probably equivalent to what level of external weaponry? Onowell could probably give an accurate parameter, but values and destructive power seemed meaningless in front of the giant dragon. Chapter 56 - 56 34 World Cage_2 ?56: Chapter 34: World, Cage_2 56: Chapter 34: World, Cage_2 They watched as the missile ascended, collided with the giant dragon¡¯s body, and then shattered like an egg thrown against a stone, turning into crystallized powder that scattered in the air without even causing a slight burst of fireworks. The conference room fell silent, modern humans had never felt so powerless so directly. The bald man silently picked up the phone, ¡°Emergency contact¡­¡± His words were cut off by someone. It was as though the voice came through something, a muffled sound. ¡°Just like I said before.¡± Yet that voice overshadowed all the background noise, entering everyone¡¯s ears with utter clarity. ¡°Then sit tight, don¡¯t do anything. Don¡¯t get smart and cause me trouble!¡± ¡¤ The air was fresh. The view was expansive. One could feel everything. The surge of power, the crystallization of desires, the manifestation of wants, the regrets lingering within this body, the grand desires that once drove its actions¡­ Those were now unnecessary clutter. Thus, Shiyu Ling set her thoughts in motion, eliminating all the unnecessary information, truly becoming the heart of the dragon. Controlling the massive body was slightly more difficult than she had anticipated, and it took some effort before she finally learned how to ¡°fly.¡± Unprecedented delight echoed in her heart. She possessed the power of natural disasters, an eternal body, allowing her to do anything, go anywhere. She finally had the authority that matched her own, bringing her the peace of heart she sought¡ªunbounded, true freedom. She almost wanted to burst into song, but the giant dragon¡¯s body was unsuitable for such activities. Ah, the body was huge, yet too unsightly. It was time to leave this city, to reshape this body into one that truly suited her, and afterward, enjoy a life of absolute freedom like a God, an everlasting bliss! Yes, everlasting bliss. She, He deserved that, for she was elevated above all vile scholars and inferior test subjects, like a dark orchid in the shadows, like a pure white narcissus, she, He was the unique Shiyu Ling¡­ He was, she was a perfect existence. She was Shiyu Ling, yes, of course, He was Shiyu Ling, He would certainly fulfill Shiyu Ling¡¯s wishes. Because He was the Colored Glaze Dragon who created the Kong Hua Realm. The Colored Glaze Dragon would fulfill the wishes of life. Fulfilling the wishes of Shiyu Ling, Gongsun Ce¡¯s wishes, the wishes of all humans. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To grant all life what they pray for, such was the existence of the Colored Glaze Dragon. This was His Kong Hua Realm. ¡°See, what did I tell you.¡± At that moment, the Colored Glaze Dragon heard a voice. ¡°Beautiful flowers simply don¡¯t grow from shadows. You are ugly, filthy, just like the other Shiyu you despise, no, your pretentious self is even more nauseating.¡± Words full of mockery, allowing no other noise to cover them. ¡°Just as I thought, a hyena that feeds on the dead. Proudly plundering the dragon¡¯s carcass, thinking you¡¯ve truly become someone important!¡± The Colored Glaze Dragon looked toward the source of the voice. On the peak of what was once a building, now a Crystal Mountain peak, sat a human with a concealed appearance, alone and cross-legged. You haven¡¯t entered the Kong Hua Realm yet. What is it that you desire? ¡°Ah¡­ Haha! Dead laughing, it¡¯s only been a few minutes and you¡¯re already assimilated? Being smart has its limits, I didn¡¯t even expect this twist but now it seems quite useful¡­ Well, since you¡¯ve been stupid to this extent, I¡¯ll take this opportunity to open your eyes.¡± The man burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. ¡°What do I want? Listen closely, Colored Glaze Dragon¡­¡± The masked man stood up, snapped his fingers, his fingertips aimed directly at the head of the Colored Glaze Dragon. The dragon¡¯s body was instantly tainted pitch black. That blackness stemmed from within Him, from countless swords that tore flesh, pierced skin, breached scales, burst out from the dragon¡¯s belly¡ª Countless black swords painted in ink. That afternoon, driven by a Superpower User straight into the heart! ¡°I want your life.¡± Ink Sword tore open the dragon¡¯s abdomen and spine, countless wounds emerged on the surface of the Colored Glaze Dragon. Golden Dragon Blood rained down from the sky like a torrential downpour onto the capital of the skies! The ruler of the Kong Hua Realm was confused by the severe pain and halted by the grievous injury, unable to comprehend what was happening to them. And then. It was not the Colored Glaze Dragon, nor the unified God. It was Shiyu Ling, feeling the pain, who let out a heart-wrenching scream. ¡°¡ª¡ªAhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!¡± The body, previously seamless, rejected her control, Shiyu Ling¡¯s consciousness instantly separated from the dragon. A cluster of crystals formed atop the dragon¡¯s head, and the body of a black-haired woman emerged from it, she angrily looked toward the distant rooftop, toward the endlessly laughing masked man! ¡°What did you do!¡± The masked man held a brush, devoid of ink, in his hand, brushing past the floating Ink Swords, turning thousands of sword soldiers back into ink, retrieving them into his pen. With a free hand, he removed his mask, revealing the face he had hidden until now. The man with phoenix eyes, a high nose bridge, and well-defined features had the appearance of a refined scholar, yet his expression resembled that of a street thug brawling. ¡°Whew! That thing was suffocating me.¡± He threw the silver-white mask aside, took a comfortable breath, and with a smile said, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Chapter 57 - 57 34 World Cage_3 ?57: Chapter 34: World, Cage_3 57: Chapter 34: World, Cage_3 Shiyu Ling remained silent. From the moment her mask was removed, a bell of madness rang in her heart. It was the ability to discern danger cultivated from a young age, the reason she survived among countless test subjects, the vigilance she possessed as a Spiritual Image Mage, and her survival instinct. Both her intuition and experience were warning her: this was an enemy she could not defeat, an existence Shiyu could not topple! ¡°Ha.¡± Yet, the black-haired woman laughed. So what if Shiyu Ling couldn¡¯t defeat it? She was no longer a test subject of Shiyu Research Institute. She no longer needed to flee from pursuit, no longer needed to live in terror. She possessed the power of the Colored Glaze Dragon, the power of the supreme disaster, and now, she¡­ Was an all-powerful God. ¡°You¡¯ve tampered with Gongsun Ce¡¯s heart without my noticing. Such a clever trick, I wonder which Impermanence Law Enforcer you are. But you¡¯re too arrogant. Daring to appear before me so boldly¡­ what do you think you can still do?¡± She summoned all the power of the Dragon Disaster, and a sea of colored glaze surged into the sky. ¡°Crystallize, you arrogant fool.¡± The man lifted his right foot and stamped it on the ground. He chuckled, ¡°Stop.¡± And thus, the ocean of crystal shattered. Following that, The catastrophes that spanned the metropolitan skies and majestic mountains disappeared at the same moment. The colored glaze encircling the buildings receded, the crystal clusters binding humans dispersed into light, and those liberated from the disaster stared blankly at the sky, clueless about what had just occurred. Only sensing the fact that they had survived the disaster. Their expressions were as lost as Shiyu Ling¡¯s at that moment. ¡°What, this¡­?!¡± The tall man touched his chin and said in a strange tone, ¡°Colored Glaze Dragon¡¤Kong Hua Realm, quite an interesting world! But lacking the critical core, even the best ideas can only become beautiful trash. A crystallized world doesn¡¯t suit this era, so I negated it with my own realm.¡± He looked up at the woman atop the giant dragon, ¡°What¡¯s there to be shocked about? Don¡¯t you have any of the intuition that a Impermanence Law Enforcer should have, little girl? Dragon Slaying Skill, Impermanence Skill, such tedious and troublesome techniques that are only useful at times like this, right?¡± As if speaking about the most natural thing in the world, the man uttered words that seemed to come from an outsider, utterly incomprehensible. This was nonsense. Negate the giant dragon phenomenon with his own world? She had never heard of such a claim, it was utterly absurd, and there was no way the Impermanence Skill could do such a preposterous thing! The reality before her eyes vividly clashed with the common sense she had learned from childhood, leaving Shiyu Ling momentarily at a loss for what to say. ¡°Oh, I forgot. You came out of the Shiyu Research Institute, those imbeciles didn¡¯t teach you well! It¡¯s not your fault, little girl, merely the misfortune of a lousy background, hahaha!¡± The man¡¯s voice snapped her back to reality. Once again, anger flared up in her heart, much like when she first met this man, with each of his words striking at her raw nerves. That place she yearned to forget, a background she hoped never to hear of again, a den of evil she vowed to escape from¡­all for the sake of acquiring power, all for the pursuit of freedom, yet here she was, at this very moment, why, why¡­! ¡°Then I¡¯ll make you leave the stage with absolute power.¡± She had decided. What Impermanence Skill couldn¡¯t do would be resolved with the power of the dragon. It was a truth etched deep within everyone¡¯s soul, that no matter what, humans could never overcome the dragon! The indifferent giant dragon looked at the entity that seemed like an ant to it, and the fierce wind stirred by its movement blew the man¡¯s coat behind him. ¡°You must be feeling quite bored, little girl,¡± he said with a chuckle, stroking his chin. ¡°Just when everything seemed to be going according to plan, a roadblock unexpectedly pops up and throws it all into chaos. But this is no exception; being restricted by one¡¯s own flaws and hindered by external conditions are experiences that everyone in this world has gone through.¡± He gazed directly at the source of the colored glaze calamity, eyeing the solitary ten-winged giant dragon without a trace of fear in his eyes, filled instead with confidence and nonchalance. The tip of his brush traced four lines in the air, perfectly forming a square frame: ¡°Ha! Being bound by fate is certain, for the vast heavens and earth are but a prison! Even if one masters a thousand magical arts and learns ten thousand spells, one can never truly be free and unfettered!¡± The Colored glaze Dragon opened its massive maw, emitting a scorching light capable of annihilating everything. As if to embrace the endless sky, the man spread his arms wide. ¡°Brahma¡¯s appearance¡ªCreation Realm¡ª¡± His voice drowned out the roaring torrents of light, his power dimming the brilliance of the dragon¡¯s glow. ¡°Four Directions Seal¡ªCarefree Prison!¡± Instantly, four ink-black barriers descended from the sky. The dragon¡¯s breath was blocked by the dark barriers, its light completely engulfed within the marks drawn by the man. The Colored glaze Dragon, unaware of what had transpired, let out a pained howl¡ªas ten powerful beams of light, akin to divine punishment, pierced through its flank. The dragon¡¯s innate power to destroy all was amplified tenfold and turned back upon itself! Enclosed by a field that could encompass the entire Colored glaze Dragon, Shiyu Ling assessed that it was likely a reflection of attack. No problem, it was not an invincible ability. One could simply fly outside the atmosphere and attack from a place far beyond his reach. She whispered in her heart. Escape from here, Colored glaze Dragon. The Colored glaze Dragon did not move an inch. ¡°?!¡± She issued multiple commands anxiously, as if commanding her own body. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She realized that while the giant dragon could launch attacks and roar, its body couldn¡¯t move at all! ¡°How can this be¡­?!¡± Shiyu Ling finally felt panic. At this moment, she truly recognized that the situation had completely slipped out of her control. ¡°Do I have to teach you what a prison is?¡± the man taunted with a sneer. ¡°Nothing from inside can come out, yet everything from outside can go in. You¡¯ve lost your freedom, you fool.¡± He had moved away from his position on the glaze earlier, and now the tall man sat back down cross-legged, tossing the brush into his coat pocket and pounding on the roof as he called out, ¡°Get to work, Gongsun!¡± ¡¤ On the 66th floor of the Dragon Head International Integrated Office Building. Silence as still as death filled the meeting room. The highest-ranking man in the room slapped the table and shouted, ¡°Activate the isolation dome, turn on the mental protection barrier. All Yiji Hall members, assemble. Contact the Republic and Country personnel, immediately begin a city-wide inspection for dragon contamination, with permission to use the maximum dose of inhibitors. We must prevent a secondary disaster from the dragon phenomenon at all costs! What are you standing around for, get to work!!¡± Only after a flurry of commands were issued did everyone in the room awaken from their stupor and return to their tasks. And no wonder, as even though all in the room were Impermanence Law Enforcers, elites handpicked from the Empire, none of them could have imagined the scene they had just witnessed. An intelligence officer replied with a tremble in his voice, ¡°Director Liu, we¡¯ve received intelligence that a Ming Guest arrived in the Fixed Wing District a minute ago¡­¡± ¡°Little Li, take the most elite members and confront him. We cannot allow him to interfere with Mr. Yan¡¯s battle. Tell that madman if he complains there aren¡¯t enough enemies, then I, the former Minister of Taichang, will personally be his opponent!¡± Director Liu rattled off a series of orders, which the old headmaster didn¡¯t bother listening to. Onowell¡¯s mouth gaped open as he stared at the tall figure on the screen: ¡°Who is he?¡± His old friend slumped back into his chair with a sigh, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s Yan Qi, Mr. Yan from the Empire, the Sky Extreme.¡± ¡°Sky Extreme¡­ the very pinnacle of the sky¡­ He is¡­?!¡± The Empire¡¯s high official gulped down two big swigs of hot tea, wiped his mouth, and finally managed to catch his breath. ¡°Just as you¡¯re thinking, he¡¯s the hero who defeated the calamity of the sky ten years ago.¡± He looked at the black-haired man on the screen and said with a smile. ¡°To break through the sky, is to be the Sky Extreme.¡± Chapter 58 - 58 35 Resurrection ?58: Chapter 35 Resurrection 58: Chapter 35 Resurrection Time reverted to 9:59. Inside the belly of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky. Shiyu Ling and the Colored Glaze Disaster had both departed, while the immobile giant dragon worshippers had vanished under the light. The pure white narcissus flowers gradually faded, leaving the underground space utterly empty. Only a lifeless body remained. Gongsun Ce lay motionless in a pool of blood. Click, click. In the vast space devoid of any life, the sound of mechanical operations echoed. The sound came from a door that led to the interior of a white tower aboveground. The heavy iron door that Gongsun Ce and Shiyu Ling had transcended using their superpowers. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Almost simultaneously as the door opened, two shadows shot out, appearing beside the corpse in the blink of an eye. Their speed was so fast that only a Biochemical Eagle with enhanced vision could have seen what had just happened. If that Biochemical Eagle could talk, it would describe the scene like this: a masked human female dragging another male human by the arm, sprinting at a ruthlessly fast pace over the shortest distance like a dinosaur carrying its prey! Their speed was so great that it broke through the air barrier, causing a piercing sonic boom in the underground space. The masked woman stopped beside Gongsun Ce¡¯s corpse and released her companion¡¯s right hand. Her poor fellow traveler lay silently on the ground, overcome not by practical jokes or pranks, but by the sheer velocity that had just shocked his system. If he were to describe it, he might say it was ¡°like being strapped to the side of a roller coaster during a sprint.¡± ¡°Please.¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Normally, he might have played a prank on her, but now was not the time for jokes. Shiyu Lianyi removed his right glove, revealing the back of his hand that he always kept hidden under white fabric. He had never done this in public before, and those who knew him didn¡¯t think much of it, assuming that a man as beautiful as he would have nice hands. However, the reality was the opposite. His hand was covered with scars¡ªscars from punctures, burns, cuts from sharp objects, and chemical burns¡­ Not an inch of unmarred skin could be found, only layers upon layers of old scars. Hideously ugly, unbearable to look at, repulsive. These hands did not represent any pleasant memories. The man, however, showed no displeasure as this act, like a pre-battle declaration, was a necessary step to enhance the Impermanence Skill. ¡°The price is one month¡¯s memory of spending time with a friend, and the reward is a five-minute delay in death.¡± He placed his ugly hand on the face of his dead friend and whispered softly, ¡°Calamity Phase¡¤Manifestation, Curse Scale¡¤Day of Filth.¡± Shiyu Lianyi was a Calamity Mage. He possessed the power to change fortunes, influence fate, and reverse causality. It was a power that could bring about death, but also one that could reverse it. As reality was altered, a corresponding price was taken. Treasured memories vanished, and unwillingly forgotten memories were erased, leaving no trace in his mind. Although it wasn¡¯t the first time he had paid such a price, he still felt regret¡ªmore accurately, sorrow. But the sorrow was fleeting, and regret never came. Memories mattered because they were spent with people who were cherished. If his friend were gone, the shared experiences would lose all meaning. ¡°¡­Puh!¡± The ¡°corpse¡±¡®s skin regained the warmth of a living person; the gravely injured gray-haired young man coughed up blood. Shiyu Lianyi put his glove back on and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s been 3 minutes and 40 seconds since your last death. The surgery was successful, but the patient will die again in about 1 minute and 20 seconds.¡± ¡°Great.¡± The masked woman visibly relaxed as she heard the revived superpower user make a sound. ¡°Dragon¡­ Disaster¡­¡± His first words upon waking up were about that. She felt a headache coming on from her friend¡¯s comment but figured that this was typical of the idiot. In a gentle tone, the masked woman replied, ¡°Yan Qi is above, no one has died.¡± ¡°Good¡­¡± muttered the once-again dying corpse on the ground, ¡°Help¡­ hand¡­ uh¡­¡± The masked woman lifted the fatally wounded college student, positioning his hand over the hole in his chest. A white substance appeared in Gongsun Ce¡¯s hands. It was undoubtedly the ability he often relied on during battle, the flip side of the Instant Spiral, a white substance counter to unseen forces. This substance became a pure white heart. The superpower user seemed to have exhausted all his strength in creating the white heart and couldn¡¯t utter a word now. The masked woman placed her hand on the young man¡¯s hand and gently moved the white heart into his chest cavity. At this moment, the white substance exhibited a quality completely unrelated to sturdiness¡ªit connected spontaneously to the damaged blood vessels and filled the spot where the heart had been. The heart began to beat inside Gongsun Ce¡¯s body, allowing them to hear the sound of a human heartbeat once again. ¡°Puh!¡± The gray-haired young man coughed up blood again, and somehow this tickled Shiyu Lianyi¡¯s funny bone. He almost burst into laughter. Chapter 59 - 59 35 Revival_2 ?59: Chapter 35 Revival_2 59: Chapter 35 Revival_2 After coughing up blood, Gongsun Ce felt his strength gradually return to his body, finally regaining the palpable sensation of being alive. The superpower user had used new white matter to completely heal the wounds on his body, and now, aside from his pale face and the white patches on his chest and back, he no longer looked like a dead person. Gongsun Ce, trembling and unsteady, was helped up by the masked woman. Midway, he nearly slipped on his own blood. He raised his thumb to his chest and shouted to the two of them, ¡°Resurrected! I¡¯ve filled it with white matter!¡± The masked woman let go, and the gray-haired young man thudded to the ground as Shiyu Lianyi finally couldn¡¯t restrain his laughter. ¡°Ha ha.¡± The superpower user clamored, ¡°Can you be a bit kinder to a critically ill patient?¡± Rolling over on the ground, he caught sight of the woman behind him removing her mask, revealing a doll-like, expressionless face. Miss Qin stood with one hand on her hip, gazing down at him from above, ¡°Idiot, fool, big dummy.¡± He was left speechless. Ordinarily, he would have snapped back instantly. But as someone who, just minutes before, had his heart gouged out by a woman he thought was an ally, and as someone who had just been painstakingly resurrected by his friends, he really had no grounds or reason to argue about being called an idiot. So Gongsun Ce simply held his head with both hands and said, ¡°Thank you both for saving my life.¡± ¡°Look at that, the way you look at an idiot.¡± Miss Qin was not ready to let it go, she mercilessly continued, ¡°Despite all our advice, you still stubbornly went along with that woman. If this was a way to hit on her, it¡¯s truly a groundbreaking innovation of the era. Was it a personal concept by Ah Ce to reform a bad woman?¡± Tragic. Having just revived from a genuine state of death, his brain wasn¡¯t functioning well and he was struggling to keep up with Miss Qin¡¯s words. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to be a fugitive¡­¡± For now, using that as a response, he quickly tried to gather his thoughts while speaking. What Miss Qin had just mentioned was¡­ He remembered the dialogue when they parted at the sewage treatment plant. The girl, brimming with fighting spirit, almost ready to strike, and the superpower user, who had noticed it¡ª ¡°That superpower user over there, we just gave you advice.¡± Although he still did not understand why Yan Qi and Miss Qin were working together, he had heard the advice they had offered. What did his best female friend of the same age say before that? ¡°This is not a dangerous situation for an amateur like you to involve yourself in. I would break your limbs myself to make you give up.¡± To go away, to avoid risk. That was undoubtedly what Miss Qin wanted to tell him. He knew this girl too well and recognized her immediately, even behind the mask. These words were undoubtedly spoken out of concern for him, Gongsun Ce could feel his friend¡¯s care. However, what he couldn¡¯t say in front of Miss Qin was that he actually wanted to hear the opinion of a certain professional¡­ that is, the advice of the arrogantly masked man, Yan Qi. Unfortunately, that advice had no feasibility, and he could not allow himself to give up halfway. So, Gongsun Ce decided to continue his actions as planned. ¡°I¡¯ve just given you my reply as well, I¡¯ll continue to investigate with Miss Alice.¡± ¡°You know my character, how could I ignore something like this¡­¡± ¡°Ignoring my advice, Yan Qi¡¯s advice too, and it ended up like this.¡± Gongsun Ce grimaced and rubbed his head, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect her to be a fugitive. I thought at worst she was a freelance individual posing as a Hunter, the worst scenario would just end with us shaking hands after everything was over¡­¡± Miss Qin nodded, ¡°Miss Alice was so nice to you, how could she harm you?¡± Gongsun Ce covered his face with his hand. Stop talking. Please, just stop!! Meanwhile, Mr. Shiyu laughed even louder, Gongsun Ce frustratedly said, ¡°Stop laughing! You must have recognized her then, otherwise why would you show up at the ramen shop and tell me to shut up!! If you had just told me using your convenient mind-reading I wouldn¡¯t have ended up so miserable!!¡± Shiyu Lianyi cleared his throat, ¡°Sorry, sorry, my plans were disrupted mid-way as well. But about why Gongsun didn¡¯t follow Mr. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yan Qi¡¯s advice at the time, I still haven¡¯t figured it out.¡± The superpower user responded angrily, ¡°Didn¡¯t you think about what that guy said!¡± ¡¤ What he really wanted to hear was Yan Qi¡¯s advice, hence the dialogue before they officially began to fight. Or rather, setting the scene. ¡°I¡¯m an expert.¡± Yan Qi had proclaimed himself as such, as had Alice. ¡°You say you¡¯re an expert? I don¡¯t find someone who only reveals their occupation and not even their name to be trustworthy.¡± Alice had shown many suspicious signs in front of him, thus arousing the superpower user¡¯s doubts. For Gongsun Ce, a Hunter he had known for only half a day was not a very reliable presence, he sought the help of a real expert. Seeking help in front of a Hunter might raise suspicions, hence the prior meeting with the information trafficker. After all, as Alice had said. If it was just information needed, a text message or a call would suffice, there was no need to meet in person. Thus, he contacted Yan Qi through Mo Yuankai. Chapter 60 - 60 35 Resurrection_3 ?60: Chapter 35 Resurrection_3 60: Chapter 35 Resurrection_3 ¡ª¡ª ¡°To judge whether a person is trustworthy, the most important premise is to first understand their purpose and stance.¡± Obviously, this self-righteous middle-aged man hadn¡¯t been divine enough to figure out everything, at least not the true identity of the Hunter. So, Yan Qi threw back a sermon, which was completely useless under the circumstances. Afterwards, Yan Qi spoke to Alice, no, to Shiyu Ling. ¡ª¡ª ¡°You talk about stopping the giant dragon¡¯s summoning, but how do I know you aren¡¯t just using this secret to seek favors from the Country?¡± ¡ª¡ª ¡°All this talk about verifying goals and mutual assistance is bullshit.¡± Emphasizing the fact that the ¡°Hunter¡± was not to be trusted, everything up to this point was already known nonsense, conducted in front of the two ladies, a performance meant only for the two directly involved in the conversation to fully grasp the intention. After confirming their mutual understanding, in front of the impatiently waiting young man, the expert offered the following solution. ¡ª¡ª ¡°Why don¡¯t you all just die.¡± Bluntly put. It was not something he could achieve. ¡ª ¡°Yan Qi, that bastard, suggested that I kill Alice, pssh, Shiyu Ling! It was completely useless, at that point we both hadn¡¯t figured out the true identity of the ¡®Country Hunter¡¯, and launching an attack on an ally based on unilateral suspicions, what kind of absurd suggestion is that!¡± Gongsun Ce slapped his thigh, trying to stand up, but only managed to lift his torso halfway before awkwardly sitting back down. Miss Qin across from him nodded as before, saying, ¡°How could Miss Alice attack an ally.¡± ¡°Enough¡­¡± Shiyu Lianyi finally stopped smiling, shaking his head and said, ¡°Gongsun, you are too naive.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Even if you didn¡¯t strike to kill, taking action together with Qin Qianbai at that time was the best choice for you. Mr. Yan Qi and I were watching from the side; even with her Impermanence Skill being strong, the two of you wouldn¡¯t have been instantly killed.¡± The young man in the suit disregarded his friend¡¯s defense, and ruthlessly criticized, ¡°Yet Gongsun passed up that chance, choosing to continue accompanying the ambiguous ¡®Alice¡¯. Apart from confidence in your own abilities, there must also have been some trust in her. In the end, didn¡¯t you believe that she wouldn¡¯t strike you down?¡± Speechless. Too naive, too confident, too arrogant. Thinking he could solve everything with his own power, only to end up in such a state. The youth who trusted others ultimately tasted the bitter fruit. ¡ª ¡°Just consider it listening to a face-saving excuse from a friend, not all the reasons for my decisions,¡± Gongsun Ce closed his eyes helplessly, ¡°The one who made me decide that, in fact, were you and Yan Qi.¡± This time, even the always composed Mr. Shiyu showed a surprised expression. ¡°Mr. Yan Qi and I?¡± ¡°The first time you appeared, you obviously knew the specifics to cover for me, and at the wastewater treatment plant, Mr. Shiyu who communicated with me using his powers was naturally discovered by Yan Qi, am I right?¡± ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s the case¡­ Could it be, your thought was?¡± ¡°The same as you thought. I was completely read by that annoying guy, which is why I ended up in this situation¡­ Tch! Everything that followed, I guess, was all within Yan Qi¡¯s expectations!¡± Miss Qin between the two glanced back and forth, realizing she couldn¡¯t understand their conversation. What could it mean that Yan Qi and Shiyu Lianyi had met? Luckily, she didn¡¯t need to rack her brain, just ask the gray-haired, bespectacled riddle-like Superpower User. Thump thump, Miss Qin tapped on the shoulder of the Superpower User. Gongsun Ce shrank his neck and replied, ¡°From my perspective, it¡¯s simple logic. After Mr. Yan Qi and Mr. Shiyu made contact, with this guy¡¯s capabilities, he would definitely dig up enough information.¡± ¡°Although I hate to admit it, that guy could do it.¡± ¡°And then, after the information was complete, Yan Qi would naturally draw a new conclusion¡ªdifferent from the previous ridiculous ¡®kill her¡¯, or it could be a more determined ¡®kill her right here¡¯. Whatever it was, having been alerted, I could take corresponding actions.¡± The Superpower User¡¯s eyes twitched, seemingly furious at someone not present, ¡°What did Yan Qi do after our battle ended?¡± Qin Qianbai tilted his head, ¡°He didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Yan Qi didn¡¯t do anything either; he just ran away. Mr. Shiyu didn¡¯t show up either. In the end, Takizawa Yoshikazu was nevertheless taken away by Miss Qin. Standing on a friend¡¯s standpoint, Qin Qianbai began to think. Yan Qi had Divine Skills, and Mr. Shiyu was always reliable. After these two had a conversation and ran away without saying anything, the conclusion for a superpower user would naturally be¡­ Gongsun Ce, frustrated and furious, pounded on his leg, ¡°Instead of saying I trusted a bad woman, it¡¯s more like I trusted a friend! You two left without saying a word, so of course I thought Alice Adar wasn¡¯t some deranged person, and you guys had more important things to take care of, so I left it in the hands of Mr. Gongsun!! How was I supposed to guess that Mr. Shiyu knew the truth but didn¡¯t tell me a word, hey Mr. Shiyu, Shiyu, Lianyi, you better give me an explanation!!!¡± The young man in the suit said with a bitter smile, ¡°Mr. Yan Qi told me not to say¡­¡± Gongsun Ce roared, ¡°I knew it! So you guys are blaming me for this!! Who knows what he staged this for, anyway, I was played for a fool by that bastard!!!¡± ¡°Naive Ah Ce is still too naive without his guard up, and that¡¯s something that can¡¯t be changed.¡± Despite saying this, the expressionless young girl secretly made a decision. ¡ªAfter everything is over, I¡¯ll beat up Yan Qi together with Ah Ce. ¡°This really was an oversight¡­ Tsk.¡± The young man with grey hair propped himself on the ground, struggling several times without being able to stand up. The girl crouched down. ¡°No choice, lean on my shoulder.¡± With the girl¡¯s help, Gongsun Ce finally stood up. He heard the girl beside him say, ¡°Speaking of which, we discussed this beforehand, but when did Yan Qi suggest that to you? Was it with that ambiguous statement of a declaration of battle?¡± ¡°Yes, Yan Qi sent me a message this afternoon, he came here just to find me.¡± Miss Qin took out a mobile phone from her friend¡¯s pocket and pulled up the most recent message. [Gongsun, this is Yan Qi. You¡¯ve been having nightmares lately, right? Die once in the next couple of days to completely settle this matter.] She blinked, understanding. ¡°Ah. Ah Ce was actually planning to die once today, so that statement meant going to kill Shiyu Ling.¡± He initially wanted to wait until evening to talk about it. They say he wouldn¡¯t really die, but who knew how it would turn out. In the end, achieving something at the cost of death, even if it¡¯s temporary, is never easy. An extraordinary ability could bring the miracle of resurrection¡­ but miracles are never free. ¡°Who could have imagined things would turn out this way half a day ago. Please take a look at my pocket watch for me.¡± Click, the cover of the pocket watch opened in Qin Qianbai¡¯s palm. The glass wasn¡¯t damaged, and the hands were still ticking. It was really great that the thing hadn¡¯t broken in the recent collision. The current time was 10:03:40, five minutes since Gongsun Ce¡¯s ¡°death.¡± Mr. Shiyu smiled softly and said, ¡°The effect of Curse Scale just ended. Do you need more time to rest, Gongsun?¡± ¡°Five minutes is already too long for me.¡± Now, his mind had finally returned to its normal state. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Churning in his heart were gratitude towards friends, reassurance after surviving danger, self-reproach for his own arrogance, anxiety about external situations. And also, an unprecedented fury burning specifically for Shiyu Ling. ¡°Let¡¯s go, both of you, Yan Qi can¡¯t handle all the situations alone. It¡¯s time to end the Colored Glaze Disaster¡­¡± The superpower user clenched his fists. ¡°It¡¯s time to wake Alice up from her sweet dreams!¡± Chapter 61 - 61 36 Round 2 ?61: Chapter 36 Round 2 61: Chapter 36 Round 2 ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how Ah Ce is supposed to fight now.¡± After solemnly proclaiming his resolve, what he received wasn¡¯t agreement but a friend¡¯s rebuttal. ¡°Maintaining your life with a white matter heart is already your limit, right? Without your real heart, you can¡¯t even stand on your own, your combat power has fallen to¡­¡± ¡°A chicken?¡± ¡°The extent of a single weed.¡± Not even an animal anymore. At least a weed was a more fitting description. ¡°What can a single weed do?¡± Miss Qin thought for a second and answered, ¡°Scraps for making a grass ring.¡± ¡°In terms of uselessness, that¡¯s truly the pinnacle.¡± Jokes aside, the reality wouldn¡¯t change because of his optimistic attitude. Gongsun Ce¡¯s current condition was even worse than during the Inch Time Fighting field. At least in the fair duel arena, he had a healthy body, while now, although he had recovered the ability to speak normally, he couldn¡¯t even move on his own. Going into battle like this, it¡¯s not about breaking Shiyu Ling¡¯s power revealed in the last moment, he probably couldn¡¯t even handle Shadow Orchid. He had to think of a solution. If he couldn¡¯t solve the problem with his own power, then he needed to rely on his friends¡¯ strength at a critical moment¡­ once again relying on his friends¡¯ power! Just five minutes ago, he had been saved, and now he needed a girl to stand up; at this point, there was no need to care about face anymore. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gongsun Ce clasped his hands and yelled to a man in a suit, ¡°I¡¯ll pay the price, help me, Mr. Shiyu!¡± ¡°Gongsun, your expression right now reminds me of a child looking up to the hero of a four-panel comic,¡± Shiyu Lianyi shrugged slightly, ¡°This incident was caused by Shiyu, so I¡¯ll pay the price. We¡¯ll discuss the specifics later¡­ Bon voyage, the two of you.¡± The young man in the suit made a welcoming gesture. ¡°Ah, thanks a lot¡ªhey, Miss Qin Qianbai, may I ask what you are doing?!¡± The combat expert was busy fixing her friend¡¯s hands onto her shoulders, and the gray-haired youth now looked like a human-shaped backpack. ¡°The previous posture wasn¡¯t convenient for traveling.¡± Gongsun Ce was confused for a moment. Whether it was the thorny path they had come from or the route Xu Junyi had descended from, it didn¡¯t seem necessary to adopt this kind of posture. Until he saw a perfectly round hole above his head. It had appeared when the youth had lost consciousness; it was a passage that the Colored Glaze Dragon blasted with a beam, connecting the underground with the surface. Gongsun Ce said weakly, ¡°¡­ The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, right.¡± ¡°Indeed. So, let¡¯s go.¡± The ground beneath the pair turned into a highly elastic rubber-like material. The martial arts expert bent her knees, leaned forward, and applied all her strength onto the giant trampoline, letting it sink to its limit, right up to the edge of her power¡¯s range. With the reverberating boom of its snapping back into shape, the two flew into the sky. ¡¤ The wind was even more ferocious than when flying in the air, the pressure even more exaggerated than when riding a biochemical bird, it assailed the youth all at once. Could a normal person really manage to fly such a vast distance with their body? He knew this girl¡¯s abilities all too well; Qin Qianbai was not a superpower user who enhanced her physique, nor was she an Impermanence Law Enforcer. Her superpower was powerful but had a very small range of effectuating substance changes; beyond that, she only had her family¡¯s martial arts. Combat skills, close-quarters fighting techniques, theoretically, this violence was only supposed to be used when bashing someone, yet when the girl used it, it seemed as incredible as an extraordinary power. Qin Qianbai occasionally touched the edges of the passage with the tip of her foot, softening the pipes or tissues within the giant dragon, before launching herself upwards again. She was shouldering a friend taller than herself, yet her movements remained nimble and agile, showing no sign of encumbrance. This was something he could never do without his superpowers. With this thought, Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°You¡¯re really amazing, Miss.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± ¡°Should I say you¡¯re truly deserving of the legacy? Far stronger than the Dragon worshippers I had beaten before. Once I lose my superpowers, as you said, I¡¯ll become a useless weed.¡± ¡°In terms of combat power, that¡¯s how it is.¡± Qin Qianbai¡¯s voice carried over the sound of the wind. ¡°Even so, I think the current Ah Ce is very strong.¡± ¡°This powerless state?¡± ¡°Just a few minutes ago, you genuinely died once, yet upon waking, you chose to continue fighting. If it were me, I¡¯d definitely be scared, maybe even cry, but Ah Ce, you can still joke around with us¡­¡± Gongsun Ce felt the grip on his arm tighten. It must have been the girl unconsciously squeezing his arm. The girl who never showed any expression, would she cry over death too? In the world of superpower users, relying on extraordinary power could bring miracles in the short term, but once the time surpassed a certain limit, life could no longer return. Just like Xu Junyi¡¯s lost family ten years ago, just like the lives that withered away in Supibia three years ago. Important memories to be cherished, treasured items in the heart, after death, all meanings are lost. To describe from the perspective of the youth who had just experienced it, death was pain without anything beautiful. Power drained rapidly, the world went dark, and in the end, there was nothing left, not even the thoughts of an independent existence. With this in mind, death was indeed a terrifying thing. Gongsun Ce thought of the enemies he had defeated minutes earlier, the leaders of the Dragon worshippers. That man¡¯s persistent pursuit of the Dragon phenomenon was probably due to the sorrow and fear of losing loved ones. And Shiyu Ling, who betrayed them at the last moment, what was she longing for? Chapter 62 - 62 36 Round 2_2 ?62: Chapter 36 Round 2_2 62: Chapter 36 Round 2_2 ¡°¡­¡± Immersed in his thoughts, the young man snapped back to reality, realizing his friend had stopped speaking as if waiting for his response. ¡°My mindset has always been good, Mr. Gongsun. I¡¯m naturally cheerful.¡± That was a lie. ¡°Throwing around those flimsy lies again, just like this afternoon.¡± This afternoon¡¯s lie¡­ Was it the one about the dream during our chat at the fast-food restaurant? It had only been a few hours ago, yet it now seemed like a century had passed. ¡°You know, if I don¡¯t tell some meaningless lies every now and then, I can¡¯t settle down.¡± He heard his friend¡¯s laughter. ¡°With Ah Ce back to his usual self, I can rest easy.¡± The conversation paused there. The battle expert finally brought him back to the surface, and the two emerged in the center of the boulevard at the district¡¯s border, causing a stir among the panicked citizens due to the giant dragon sighting. ¡°The ghost of the Dragon of the Vaulted Sky has appeared!¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll never take those weird drugs again!¡± ¡°A man flying from underground!¡± Even Gongsun, who prided himself on his good mindset, choked when he heard these exclamations. How could these people be so startled over such a trivial event, had they never been involved in a street brawl of superpowers? ¡°Where is Yan Qi?¡± ¡°Over there on the rooftop. Look, this grappling hook will come in handy.¡± Qin Qianbai shot out a grappling hook from his sleeve, its claw grabbing onto the edge of the rooftop¡¯s terrace, pulling the two of them through the air toward their target. A man in a black coat, looking impatient, pounded on the rooftop and shouted, ¡°Get to work, Gongsun kid!¡± Gongsun Ce roared at him, ¡°After this is over, you owe me an explanation, Yan Qi! Tell me what¡¯s happening now!¡± Yan Qi pointed at the massive figure in the sky with his chin: ¡°Did you go blind along with dying once? Look for yourself!¡± The single-headed, ten-winged giant dragon was imprisoned in the center of a dark cage, its golden body gradually matched the appearance of the calamity from memory, taking the young man back to incidents three years prior. Back then, the dragon wasn¡¯t in this state; its body was flawless, its golden scales impervious to harm, the light emitted by its three dragon heads could craft gods from myths. The irresistible colored glaze swept through the entire city¡­ Until two of its dragon heads were severed by a sharp blade. Gongsun Ce dismounted from his friend¡¯s back, steadying himself on his knees, and asked, ¡°How¡¯s the sword now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s inside the body of the Colored glaze Dragon, I¡¯ve just lifted the sealing, and I gave it a good blast with the Sword Array for good measure. One more slash, and we can bring it down.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the battle plan?¡± Yan Qi tapped his chin with his finger and said, ¡°Shiyu Ling is still on the dragon. I separated that fool from the dragon earlier; otherwise, it would have been a hassle to have mixed targets. The spread of Kong Hua Realm and the essence of the dragon are for me to handle. Just to be safe, let the girl take you up there to get the sword and slay the dragon. Remember, only one slash; if you don¡¯t want a mishap to cause the sword to go berserk and doom the city, take down Shiyu Ling before slaying the dragon.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After quickly responding, Gongsun Ce thought to himself, (Can you hear me, Mr. Shiyu?) The young man in the suit¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. (Regarding her manifestation, I regret to say I didn¡¯t grasp the full picture. I can¡¯t dodge or defend against her attack; I can¡¯t approach or strike at her essence. That¡¯s the presence I perceive from my vantage point.) Gongsun Ce remembered the helplessness of being with ¡®Alice.¡¯ Mr. Shiyu had left one thing out. In the presence of Shiyu Ling, no lies could be told. (I think I¡¯ve got some idea. How long can I fight?) (Ten minutes is the limit.) (More than enough.) (The cost is losing all extraordinary abilities for ten minutes, but in return, you regain full combat strength for ten minutes. Good luck, Gongsun.) Shiyu Lianyi cut off the connection, no, it was more accurate to say that having paid the price, he temporarily couldn¡¯t use his superpowers. Then, Gongsun Ce¡¯s body surged with power once more. The gray-haired young man floated into the air, raising his left hand to lift Qin Qianbai along with him. The expressionless girl waved her hand in the air. ¡°I didn¡¯t quite catch that just now, but we¡¯re going to fight on the dragon¡¯s body, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Ah, let¡¯s go!¡± The physical damage and spiritual fatigue, those symptoms of overusing abilities, were completely disregarded by the Superpower Users. An invisible force propelled the two bodies, drawing them closer to the colossal creature in the sky like birds in flight. At 45 seconds, the two arrived beside the Colored Glaze Dragon; at 56 seconds, they were standing on its neck, which connected to the Dragon Head like a long bridge, and they ran towards the Dragon Head where Shiyu Ling was¡ª ¡°Kill!¡± At the roar of a man, they stopped in their tracks. Standing in the middle of the golden bridge was a man in a trench coat with eyes red with fury. His twisted face was clutching his chest, and his eyes, filled with hatred towards the two of them, were as if he had encountered the murderer of his kin. Gongsun Ce frowned; he still remembered the right he had won in the battle arena. ¡°Do not make any movements¡ª¡± ¡°Stop trying to command me! I don¡¯t want the Manifestation Realm anymore!!¡± Xu Junyi roared as he tore off his shirt, revealing an expanding muscle mass, ¡°And right now, I¡¯m going to use my Divine Communication to tear you to shreds!!!¡± It sounded like he freed himself from his own abilities by destroying his cultivation. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Superpower Users couldn¡¯t bother to say anything to such a sore loser. Qin Qianbai walked up to him. ¡°He used to be an official of the Empire, had learned your family¡¯s secret technique. The ones I¡¯ve seen are Mountain Piercing, Submerging Land, and Hidden Strike.¡± ¡°Mm, just fight, I¡¯ll support you soon.¡± The Superpower User swiftly ascended into the air, and the man on the bridge roared, ¡°Get out of my way! Desolate Form¡¤Divine Communication, Solid Iron Beast King!¡± Xu Junyi¡¯s hair shot up, and his black strands enveloped his entire head like a lion¡¯s mane. His fingertips grew into sharp claws, while his muscles turned into a dark, iron-like color. His already robust figure swelled even larger, reaching a height of 6 meters! Transformed into a steel monster, Xu Junyi leapt into the air, attempting to block the Superpower User¡¯s path¡ª Only to find a slender arm had pierced through his abdomen. ¡°Qin Secret Skill¡¤Mountain Piercing.¡± The beast¡¯s face didn¡¯t even have time to shift to astonishment before the Martial Artist used the next move. She did not withdraw her hand; instead, she lifted the enemy¡¯s massive body along with it. ¡°Submerging Land.¡± She swung the enemy like a weapon, smashing him onto the dragon¡¯s neck. ¡°¡ªAh!¡± Only when his body slammed onto the ground did the Desolate FormMage finally yell out in pain. If Gongsun Ce were fighting him, the young man surely would have exchanged a few words in the midst of battle. However, his opponent was no longer the same person. This expert disliked idle chatter when engaged in serious combat. The girl from the Martial Arts Faction yanked out her hand, and the blood that followed solidified into a dagger under her power. She took the dagger in her right hand and smashed down with her free left hand. ¡°Hidden Strike.¡± Her fist crushed into the chest, and the power strong enough to pulverize rocks surged within the Desolate FormMage, as Xu Junyi let out another heart-wrenching scream. Fear appeared in the man¡¯s eyes; only now did he realize how outmatched he was by the girl¡­ Much more so than any opponent he faced in the fleeting battle arena! 1 minute and 15 seconds, atop the head of the Colored Glaze Dragon. The Superpower User stood on the golden dragon scales, and a woman with black hair, standing with her back to him, was in his field of vision. She wore black hunting clothes and fingerless leather gloves, looking outwardly like a female hunter from a forest. The ¡°Hunter¡± turned around, looking at him in shock. ¡°I didn¡¯t think we would meet again, young man.¡± She emphasized ¡®young man¡¯ as if to mock this immature opponent. Gongsun Ce tapped the white material on his chest, responding expressionlessly. ¡°The second round begins now, Miss Shiyu.¡± Chapter 63 - 63 37 The Narcissus of Domination ?63: Chapter 37: The Narcissus of Domination 63: Chapter 37: The Narcissus of Domination ¡°My heart was literally stolen, and yet I was able to stand up again, isn¡¯t that a bit too much?¡± Shiyu Ling crossed her arms, looking at him as casually as if they were chatting idly, ¡°Is your real superpower immortality?¡± ¡°Perhaps I am creating robots, and the current me is a puppet remotely controlled by the original body, how about that idea?¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Puppets don¡¯t have hearts that possess power.¡± The moment his heart had been dug out, such a lie would be immediately seen through. He needed something more feasible, something more convincing. ¡°You are right, I¡¯ll tell you the real reason then,¡± Gongsun Ce pushed up his glasses, ¡°The answer is love. It¡¯s with the love I have for Miss Shiyu that I was able to return from the abyss of death!¡± ¡°¡ª¡ªWhat, what, what?!¡± Clearly, the black-haired woman hadn¡¯t expected such a reply; her face turned red as she let out a sound of disbelief. The Superpower User continued to press his attack: ¡°The miracle was created by the power of love! Ah, Miss Shiyu, you are too beautiful, too elegant, that scene described by the blood, how unforgettable!¡± ¡°Stop it, you¡¯re really making me blush!¡± ¡°The flames of love burn in my hollow chest, they drove me to this place, to make a confession of love! Please forgive me, Miss Shiyu, I can¡¯t help but¡ª¡ª¡± The Superpower User clenched his fist: ¡°deliver a hundred punches to you.¡± The speed of thought was much faster than words, and the attack was already formed at the moment the concept was conceived; invisible giant fists tore through the air, heading straight for the flushed-faced black-haired woman! ¡°Invisible Fist, Hundred Continuous Strikes.¡± This was a tactic he had used in the Tierlos Battle, when the youth with just three punches had shattered the enemy¡¯s demonic body, and this time he had no reservations, just as he had said¡­ This time, he had struck a total of a hundred consecutive strikes! Shiyu Ling stood in place, bringing her palms together: ¡°The abilities of the inferior cannot touch me.¡± The unbelievable happened once again. It wasn¡¯t blocked, nor dodged; the invisible punches disappeared the moment they neared Shiyu Ling, just like their literal meaning. From the perspective of the Superpower User, the phenomenon seemed quite extraordinary: one moment he could feel the wind created high in the sky by the high-velocity telekinesis, the next moment the force itself was gone, leaving only the air currents from the attack floating high above. The Superpower User made a rough judgment. The attack was still there at the moment it was launched. The real issue was the moment the fist was heading towards Shiyu Ling. The black-haired woman sliced her fingertip across her palm; a drop of crimson blood fell upon the scales of the giant dragon. ¡°Thousands of flowers bloom, a stunning beauty.¡± A delicate daffodil broke through from the blood. ¡°Spiritual Image?Manifestation, Water Mirror Immortal Shadow, within arms¡¯ reach yet worlds apart.¡± Countless flowers blossomed interactively, turning the Colored Glaze Dragon¡¯s head into a sea of flowers. She laughed lightly amidst the white color: ¡°Honestly, girls do not appreciate such brute confessions.¡± Spiritual Image?Manifestation. Now, it seemed that the Brahma Form Skill used when acting as Alice was also a mere illusion to cover her true identity. He still remembered the ¡°Hunter¡±-popularized common knowledge; Spiritual Image Skill often manifested in ways like illusions, mind control, thought influence. Was that scene a figment of his own imagination or some special technique that ripped away his control of his ability? He couldn¡¯t jump to conclusions. He thought of Xu Junyi¡¯s Impermanence Skill, his Desolate Form?Manifestation, and the strengthening of the physical body by the Desolate Form that seemed barely connected. The abilities of the Manifestation Realm had clearly transcended common sense; who knew what Shiyu Ling¡¯s true capability was? He shot out pure white spikes and invisible bullets but failed to break a single daffodil. The pristine flowers swayed like reflections in the water, transitioning from illusory to corporeal. Destroying the environment appeared to be ineffective; over 2 minutes had passed, and the true nature of the ability remained unclear. He needed a way to draw some information out¡­ S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. but let¡¯s not resort to such self-deceptive strategies. To be frank, even in such a critical situation, it was too much to ask him to fight in silence. ¡°I thought an older woman would prefer a more bold approach to words.¡± Shiyu Ling returned with a cold laugh: ¡°Do you find it amusing to knowingly commit the same mistake? I¡¯m really getting angry now.¡± The young man clenched his fist. ¡°It seems that aspect isn¡¯t a disguise; I thought you¡¯d first evaluate my lie.¡± ¡°A clumsy lie? I don¡¯t care at all because¡­¡± The Superpower User stared into the enemy¡¯s eyes: ¡°Because lies from the inferior can¡¯t deceive you, right?¡± He saw a fleeting look of astonishment pass through her black eyes; the Superpower User didn¡¯t miss this chance. He used his ability to control his body, rushing forward with speed not inferior to that of some combat expert. If his superpower attacks wouldn¡¯t work, he¡¯d try a physical strike! He had no intention of being merciful to the opponent who had killed him just minutes before; his fist, bolstered by his ability and capable of smashing through walls, showed no mercy as it hammered towards Shiyu Ling¡¯s body! ¡°The body of the inferior cannot touch me.¡± This time, Gongsun Ce¡¯s fist stopped in midair. It needed just one more centimeter to hit the enemy. Yet, the fist stopped by itself. He hadn¡¯t felt any excessive resistance, nor had he struck an invisible barrier; what he perceived was a situation so absurd it bordered on ludicrous¡ªhis body from fingertip to forearm was frozen in place, as if the flesh had defied its master¡¯s command! ¡°Body control?¡± Chapter 64 - 64 37 The Daffodil of Domination_2 ?64: Chapter 37: The Daffodil of Domination_2 64: Chapter 37: The Daffodil of Domination_2 ¡°Who knows, it could all be an illusion,¡± the woman with black hair raised her finger, ¡°Wandering white light.¡± The white flowers covering the Dragon Head all turned towards the Superpower User at once, shooting countless pure white beams of light from their buds! Gongsun Ce immediately drew back, and his arm, which had previously been immobile, regained freedom just as he retreated. He flew into the air to dodge the deadly beams, while simultaneously creating a white substance hammer to smash down¡ª ¡°Lower beings cannot dodge my attack.¡± This time, the entire body of the Superpower User disobeyed its master¡¯s command. Gongsun Ce had barely taken flight when he became unable to move at all, becoming a sitting duck floating in the air, and the beams of light from the narcissus were about to pierce his body! The white beams were dense and innumerable, far too many to count. To be struck by such an attack all at once, even Mr. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shiyu would likely not be able to save him. He had to think of something, with his body not responding to his commands¡­! ¡°White Substance Barrier!¡± The giant hammer, not yet used in an attack, exploded in Gongsun Ce¡¯s hands and turned into a white, sturdy wall in front of him. This incredibly hard barrier blocked the majority of the attacks at a critical moment; only a few beams at the very front penetrated his body, leaving several burning wounds! ¡°Cough¡­!¡± The Superpower User fell weakly downwards, then he noticed that he finally regained control of his body. Gongsun Ce barely managed to stand on the dragon scales using his abilities, covering the multiple wounds between his chest and abdomen with his hand. Two minutes and thirty seconds passed, and he hadn¡¯t managed to inflict any damage on Shiyu Ling, but instead, he further injured himself. The woman with black hair smoothed her hair and spoke disinterestedly, ¡°The words of a lower being cannot deceive me; I much prefer the term ¡®big sister¡¯¡­ though the outcome is the same. You, who should have died, are here fighting with me, it seems I showed a flaw earlier on. Was it because of this deliberately revealed small power?¡± He thought back to their first meeting. At the student dormitory, the Hunter had reacted to his lies. For someone with keen intuition, this was a reasonable reaction. But, what came after was illogical. After the Tierlos Battle ended, he fooled everyone with Mo Yuankai¡¯s identity, and after the dinner at the ramen shop, he concealed his exchanges with Mr. Shiyu. If she truly had keen intuition, she should have noticed such anomalies. Going further during their descent underground, he managed to get through with ambiguous words, which also shouldn¡¯t have been a problem. Then the answer was simple. ¡°Obvious lies would be detected, but omitting part of the truth or speaking only superficial truths poses no problem. Rather than intuition, it¡¯s more like some sort of lie-detection mechanism. I didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, after all, everyone has their secrets, and it¡¯s normal to hide a few things from someone you¡¯ve just met half a day¡­ But there were too many suspicious things about you, and I had to start doubting you.¡± ¡°I see, there were errors in other details as well.¡± If it were Alice Adar standing on the other side, the occasionally careless yet headstrong Hunter would have eagerly pressed for answers to her own mistakes. ¡°Where did I slip up? I thought my performance was perfect?¡± The Superpower User would typically interject sharply, then they would go through each point in detail, almost like confirming answers to each other¡¯s guesses¡­ In the end, the Hunter would smile wryly, shake her head, and say, ¡°I underestimated you,¡± then offer some seemingly mature compliments. But now, he was not facing the blue-haired Alice but the black-haired Shiyu Ling. There was no familiar smile on her face, only an unmistakable weariness. She must be tired too, just like himself at this moment. Her voice reached his ears. ¡°It¡¯s time to end this. You must have realized in the fight just now that you cannot defeat me. It¡¯s good you¡¯re still alive; take your friend and leave this place, Gongsun Ce.¡± Shiyu Ling smiled, ¡°Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to die once more.¡± ¡°How strange, you talk as if I¡¯m injured,¡± Gongsun Ce brushed his bloodstained clothes, beneath them no wound was visible, only a few holes filled with white substance. He spread his hands like a magician taking a bow, ¡°Ta-da, I¡¯ve filled them with white matter!¡± ¡°I¡¯m at a loss for words. If previously you were running towards a vortex, now you are jumping into the abyss of your own accord.¡± Shiyu Ling offered him a smile, ¡°Since you now stand in my way, die once more, Superpower User.¡± The white flower once again shot out a beam of light of the same color, and Gongsun Ce raised his arm, ready to summon the White Matter Barrier¡ª ¡°An inferior cannot resist my attack.¡± Not only his body, but this time his powers also defied his command. The solid and stable wall of white matter failed to form, and the relatively fragile telekinetic barrier couldn¡¯t be formed either. Gongsun Ce was unable to make any defense! ¡°Defense¡­!¡± At the critical moment, the superpower user¡¯s body was thrown diagonally upward! His legs were pierced with holes the size of bullet holes, and the smell of charred flesh filled the air¡ªundoubtedly a severe injury, yet Gongsun Ce unnaturally started to laugh. ¡°It seems that even your powers are not omnipotent, Impermanence Law Enforcer.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you think.¡± Shiyu Ling lifted his hand and pointed forward; several beams of light converged together to form a white cannon. ¡°Blind Light Fire.¡± Getting hit by this was not something that could be patched up with white matter as a minor injury. Should he defend or evade? The superpower user had to make a quick decision. The current situation was different from when dealing with the Sky-piercing Snake, he did not have the luxury of an optimal choice¡­ However, battle was never a multiple-choice question. Imitating the other¡¯s movements, Gongsun Ce pointed his fingers forward. ¡°White Matter Re-Light Fist!¡± A vast amount of white substance formed into a giant fist, an emblem of primal violence, unflinchingly meeting the light fire head-on, breaking through it, and hurtling toward the distant dark-haired woman! ¡°Inferiors cannot approach my body.¡± Shiyu Ling did not panic but issued a new command, ¡°The ability of an inferior cannot¡­?!¡± He had only gotten halfway through his second command when his expression changed. The shockwave from the giant object¡¯s attack sent her hair dancing in the air, and the dark-haired woman rolled on the ground with no regard for her appearance, narrowly avoiding the white matter giant fist! For the first time, her face showed a look of astonishment: ¡°What is this¡­?!¡± The gray-haired youth stood still, thoughtful. He couldn¡¯t move his body in the slightest¡­ yet, the scene that unfolded before him provided him with a brand new inspiration. ¡°That¡¯s right, you wouldn¡¯t know, not even Miss Qin is aware of it.¡± Spiritual Image¡¤Manifestation was Shiyu Ling¡¯s Impermanence Skill, and Impermanence Skills often related to the appearance of the soul. The Shadow Orchid was also her power¡ªwhat had he analyzed from it? Flowers blooming from the shadows, disdain for the environment and others, a desire to escape, seeing oneself as above others like a flower¡­ She did not like jokes about her age¡­ a few minutes ago, on the brink of death, she also heard something intriguing¡­ a desire to become a god¡­ Inferiors, abilities, commands, attacks that successfully landed¡­ He slowly said, ¡°Your command was wrong. Because this white substance, it¡¯s not my power.¡± Then, the superpower user laughed. ¡°Inferiors and sovereigns, ha! I get it now, this is indeed a terribly overbearing power!¡± Shiyu Ling frowned. ¡°Your tone now is as detestable as that man from the Empire.¡± ¡°Please, I don¡¯t like that guy at all.¡± 3 minutes and 56 seconds had passed, and the superpower user was in no rush. He believed that now, he could surely solve all problems. Gongsun Ce adjusted his glasses, ¡°Let¡¯s uncover it then, Shiyu Ling¡¯s Spiritual Image¡¤Manifestation, what exactly is its true nature!¡± Chapter 65 - 65 38 Selfishness and Pride Named Love ?65: Chapter 38: Selfishness and Pride Named Love 65: Chapter 38: Selfishness and Pride Named Love In the recent battle, what exactly had he experienced? Just as his superpower was about to strike the opponent, it dissipated, his body disobeyed his commands when he tried to dodge, and he was unable to summon a defensive barrier for action. Everything proceeded according to Shiyu Ling¡¯s instructions, and to describe the commonality of these phenomena in a sentence¡­ It was that he had lost control over his body and powers. ¡°Water Mirror Immortal Shadow is but a step away, the true essence of this ability is control over the enemy. But the question lies in, what exactly is the principle behind its activation?¡± He gathered a white substance in the palm of his hand, forming a narcissus flower identical to the one Shiyu Ling had materialized. ¡°One would think it corresponds to someone superior¡ªthe initial thought was like this. But Mr. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gongsun, I¡¯m not an Impermanence Law Enforcer, even if there indeed exists in the Impermanence Skill an unknown rank difference, it should not affect me either. What¡¯s more, my own abilities going out of control while successfully using someone else¡¯s abilities further proves that the so-called inferiority does not refer to elements within the supernatural field, but the ¡®target¡¯ you define in the ¡®command¡¯, which is not the superpower user, but Gongsun Ce himself.¡± ¡°Ah, is admitting your inferior abilities such a difficult thing for you?¡± While retorting with a sneer, Shiyu Ling drew a short arrow from her waist. Three pitch-black arrows shot towards the superpower user¡¯s head, throat, and heart. At the same time, ten units of narcissus flowers gathered power and fired over a dozen thick, tree-trunk-like beams of white light! The black weapons were demon-breaking arrows capable of nullifying supernatural abilities; using a power barrier might be utterly ineffective against them, and the white light possessed even more destructive power than heavy artillery. This attack alone was difficult to deal with, but the disadvantages didn¡¯t end there: this time, Shiyu Ling issued no verbal commands, yet the superpower user¡¯s sensations were the same as before. Gongsun Ce stood motionless, unable to defend with his powers, and once again, his body had betrayed him! ¡°Of course, Miss Shiyu. After all, the only advantage I possess is my formidable superpower.¡± The gray-haired youth crushed the narcissus in his hand, ¡°Silence.¡± The violent telekinetic force stirred up a gale, diverting the demon-breaking arrows from their original paths beside the superpower user. Invisible forces met the light beams; both attacks collided in midair, shattered, and burst into a white luminescence! If defense or evasion is impossible, find a solution through attack; if a weapon that can break supernatural forces comes, use the phenomena brought by your abilities to divert it. Combat was never a multiple-choice question! ¡°¡­¡± Just as Shiyu Ling was about to say something, the superpower user took the next step. The youth, who should have been motionless, stepped forward with his right foot towards the enemy. Gongsun Ce smiled. ¡°Indeed, now you can only issue two ¡®commands¡¯ at the same time. Unable to defend, unable to dodge, but you didn¡¯t stop me from approaching you. Why is that, Miss Shiyu? Someone like you, who could single-handedly clear out the Shiyu Research Institute, shouldn¡¯t be cornered by an outsider like me!¡± Recognizing the limitation of her abilities was a highly disadvantageous situation. But Shiyu Ling showed no hint of fear; she smiled as before and moved forward at the same pace as the youth. ¡°Being dead once didn¡¯t dull your mind, huh. Keep talking, I don¡¯t dislike smart boys!¡± Holding the short arrow, Shiyu Ling charged forward, not only closing the distance but also actively initiating close combat! ¡°Because the condition that makes you strong was already absent at the start of this battle! Your power is to control the inferior, both literally and practically, it¡¯s invincible. But this ability has an indispensable condition, which lies in the meaning entrusted in your Impermanence Skill, and in your way of living as a human!¡± The invisible force was about to tear the opponent¡¯s body apart, but it vanished just before making contact, and the attacking ability lost control. Shiyu Ling once again launched a coordinated attack with short arrows and beams of light, reducing the distance between them to 3 meters when Gongsun Ce realized he couldn¡¯t use his powers to counterattack. He immediately grasped the significance of the enemy opting for close combat. In this reduced distance, only one command to prevent close attacks was enough to render most of his attack methods ineffective. Would the simultaneous command be to prohibit defense or to prohibit evasion? Without the enemy voicing the command, he couldn¡¯t predict further developments¡­ Thus, Gongsun Ce directly punched himself with his superpower. His body, struck by telekinetic force, flew high, just brushing past Shiyu Ling¡¯s attack. The gray-haired youth fell onto the giant dragon¡¯s scales, and at the same time, a pure white spear was conjured out of thin air, stabbing towards the enemy! ¡°The condition for your Spiritual Image to manifest¡­¡± The black-haired woman ducked, and the white spear grazed past her hair. This round of combat ended there, and the next round was set to start within half a second¡ª ¡°It¡¯s your sense of superiority towards others!¡± Hearing this, Shiyu Ling halted her attack. ¡°¡­ Heh.¡± She looked at the enemy standing opposite her, the youth who was bruised yet smug, and started to laugh. ¡°Ha ha ha, haha, hahaha! Correct answer, Gongsun Ce! Tell me, what gave it away this time? Did the Creator Realm Mage provide you with the information?¡± She held her belly, laughing heartily. Even the superpower user was at a loss for words now. His opponent¡¯s mental state was truly impressive; she didn¡¯t even show a hint of frustration about her power being analyzed, not a trace of desperation. As he had thought. This woman named Shiyu Ling, no matter when, would never show her adversaries her weak side. She allowed self-mockery but not mockery from others, she allowed defeat but not disrespect from others. Even well-meaning jokes could truly anger her, so conscious was she of her own image¡­ Because she loved herself more than anyone else. ¡°It¡¯s because of the inferior, Miss Shiyu. There shouldn¡¯t be any hierarchy between different system powers, you¡¯re not some nobility, so what basis do you have to define me as inferior? I tried to find evidence in reality but couldn¡¯t find any convincing explanation. So I shifted my thoughts to something intangible¡­ unseen, untouchable, thoughts that only oneself knows, definitions that only oneself understands.¡± What is the emotion that the superior holds for the inferior, the controller for the controlled? Who would harbor what kind of feelings for their enemies if they treated others like shadows and themselves as flowers? The young man with gray hair pushed up his glasses, ¡°Approached from this angle, the answer becomes evident¡­ it is a sense of superiority. Miss Shiyu, you believe yourself to be nobler and more perfect than anyone else in the world, and so, you will always feel superior to others!¡± In the presence of those who could not deceive themselves, the sense of superiority escalated, which was why she deliberately exhibited her ability to detect lies. In the presence of those younger than herself, the sense of superiority escalated, and for that reason, she emphasized her role as an elder. Hence, she didn¡¯t want to reveal her weaker side, thus assuming the role of a seasoned predecessor¡­ Only by doing so could her sense of superiority towards others be greatly strengthened, only by doing so could the love she felt for herself surge more intensely, only by doing so could Shiyu Ling dominate others with absolute superiority in battle! ¡°But you can¡¯t fight with that good mindset anymore,¡± the young man said coldly, looking at her, ¡°because the me you killed with your own hands has reappeared, because the giant dragon you summoned was sealed by Yan Qi, because you realized the situation has slipped out of your control. How can you, who have already failed, still harbor such a strong sense of superiority towards the victor!¡± ¡°Of course I can, Gongsun Ce!¡± she replied, laughing joyously, even the tears emerged from her eyes, ¡°Otherwise, how would I use my Impermanence Skill? Humans are born for themselves. What¡¯s wrong with loving oneself more than others?¡± She rarely felt the sensation of frustration. At a time like this, anyone should feel a sense of shame, but this woman didn¡¯t think so. She admired it, felt helpless about it, yet never introspected or regretted it. That sort of attitude made her powerful. It was also that kind of thinking that made the young man angry. ¡°You killed an innocent man because of your own desire.¡± ¡°I have no regrets.¡± ¡°Your desires have put the entire city in danger.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Anger burned within his chest, causing the Superpower User to clench his fists tightly. More aggravating than being dragged into an arena, angrier than knowing he had been calculated by Yan Qi, he roared as he charged toward his enemy, raising his fist! ¡°You¡¯ve pissed me off, Shiyu Ling!¡± ¡°Then come kill me, Gongsun Ce!¡± Just like before, the young man¡¯s punch, only halfway through, froze in place. He did not panic at the predictable hindrance, but instead, formed a white sword rain above Shiyu Ling¡¯s head, causing it to fall vertically! However, Shiyu Ling issued a brand-new command¡­ ¡°The Impermanence Skill inherited by the subordinate cannot touch me.¡± The supposedly invincible white material shattered into pieces a moment before touching the woman. ¡°It appears I was not mistaken,¡± Shiyu Ling said with a smile as she thrust a short arrow forward, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of superpowers being inherited, so it must be Dragon Slaying Skill! You have a very good relationship with a certain Impermanence Law Enforcer, Gongsun Ce, he even gave his heart to you!¡± The Superpower User emotionlessly dodged the attack and grabbed Shiyu Ling¡¯s wrist tightly, ¡°Yes, this is the Impermanence Skill I inherited during a third-grade archaeological excavation from an ancestor from four hundred years ago. The old ancestor, while shaky, imparted a blessing on my forehead, saying that the Gongsun family¡¯s honor for eighteen generations now depends on me alone.¡± ¡°What a poor lie indeed.¡± ¡°Please excuse me, for I truly do not wish to discuss anything from the past with you, a despicable woman¡­¡± The Superpower User swung his fist again. His fist struck the woman¡¯s raised forearm, which surprisingly made the furious young man take aback. Shiyu Ling¡¯s impeccable defense should not have had such an oversight; a fist swung purely out of anger should not have hit the woman. But, before that¡­ Why was he able to grasp Shiyu Ling¡¯s forearm? The black-haired woman then grasped his wrist in return with their hands layered in a strange posture. On the corner of the enemy¡¯s lips, he saw a smile, a triumphant smirk. ¡°¡­!¡± In an instant, the Superpower User perceived a horrifying possibility, he heard Shiyu Ling whisper softly. ¡°Shadow Orchid.¡± The giant dragon¡¯s surface shone brightly, casting a shadow behind the young man. And then, she vanished from her spot, appearing within the shadow of the Superpower User, stepping on flowers. In the moment she disappeared. Her opponent was no longer ¡°whole¡±. Chapter 66 - 66 39 Instantaneous Spiral ?66: Chapter 39: Instantaneous Spiral 66: Chapter 39: Instantaneous Spiral Shiyu Ling¡¯s Brahma Form Skill, Divine Communication, was a skill that could teleport through shadows like an orchid. The Shadow Orchid facilitated the transfer of her physical body; it could also make her, along with her weapons or companions, disappear together¡ªsuch a convenient ability¡­ However, aside from relying on the shadowy environment, there was another clear weakness. Her Brahma Form Skill lacked offensive capabilities. The Demon-breaking Arrow was a practical auxiliary tool, but it was less ideal for occasions when a decisive strike was needed. In a situation where she had to fight with just Shadow Orchid, she had to come up with comprehensive countermeasures¡­ To this end, she developed a method known as erroneous teleportation. The principle was simple. When using Divine Communication on others, she would deliberately make the power go haywire, causing the teleportation of a complete body to be dismembered. Not even she, the one using the power, could predict which part might be lost. It might be an arm, half a leg, an entire head¡­ Or perhaps, most of the body. Making direct contact with the opponent using herself or the flower, she gambled everything on a decisive technique ruled by probability. When launched against the defeated members of the Evil Beast Army, nearly half of them disappeared. But large-scale sweeps were different from single attacks. The Beast Army considered the loss of part of their bodies as ¡°unable to fight,¡± but humans with willpower were not necessarily so. On the other hand, Gongsun Ce also could not predict what kind of injury he would sustain. An unexpected development, not even imagined by himself, certainly would not be within the opponent¡¯s consideration, which meant the initiative had to be hers this time. With absolute confidence, Shiyu Ling stepped out from the shadows. As she returned to the real world, she immediately felt an unexpected heaviness in her hand. In her hand, she held a left hand. A left hand brutally severed from the lower arm. ¡°¡ª¡ª You!¡± The moment surprise took hold, she felt a painful blow from behind, and the superpower user turned and delivered a kick. Her powered-up kick sent Shiyu flying several meters away! ¡¤ ¡°Hiss¡­ Ah!¡± The young man gasped in pain. Which was more excruciating, having one¡¯s arm severed or broken? Ordinary people couldn¡¯t even imagine it, but the young man who had experienced both injuries in one day could now scream in response: both were painful, both were unbearable. However, if personal factors were included, he would choose the latter¡­ Because this time, he had amputated his own arm. ¡°Almost killed me with one¡­ hiss¡­ strike¡­¡± Clutching his left arm with his right hand, a white substance emerged from his palm, barely managing to stop the bleeding wound. ¡°Lucky for me¡­ I had the upper hand!¡± After he amputated his own arm, Shiyu Ling¡¯s teleportation no longer targeted her enemy. It was merely an isolated hand, after all. Shiyu Ling propped herself up, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth. She tossed the superpower user¡¯s left hand aside, ¡°To avoid a potential fatal injury, you amputated your own arm yourself, oh dear¡­ am I fighting against a suicidal warrior trained by some organization?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think too highly of me; I¡¯m just a student who wants to give you a beating,¡± Gongsun Ce sneered, releasing his arm, ¡°Water Mirror Immortal Shadow, Demon-breaking Arrow, Shadow Orchid¡­ What other tricks do you have?¡± ¡°Sure do,¡± she said with a sly smile, ¡°Can you keep fighting like this for a few more minutes?¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Superpower users were not professionals. He could use his mind to spot his opponent¡¯s weakness, could lure out the enemy¡¯s flaws with verbal tactics. But likewise, he could abandon his original plan due to a moment of rage, making hasty decisions. He could also feel nervous when his own vulnerabilities were exposed. This might be overlooked by a careless enemy, but in the eyes of a Spiritual Image Mage, the young man¡¯s micro-expressions were as conspicuous as an elephant in a fridge. ¡°The miracle of resurrection is already rare, but being able to continue the fight is even more incredible; there has to be some limitations¡­ And speaking of such limitations, the first thing most people would think of is time.¡± Shiyu Ling stopped closing the distance. ¡°How much time do you have left, Gongsun Ce?¡± The effect of the Curse Scale was more than half gone. The time left to deal with Shiyu Ling and the giant dragon was under five minutes. It would not take Qin Qianbai too long to tackle Divine Communication, and she would surely come here within another minute¡­ However, such circumstances could bring unpredictable changes. Would Shiyu Ling¡¯s sense of superiority increase in a multiple-enemy scenario? Would the effect of Water Mirror Immortal Shadow become stronger as a result? He was not an expert in the Impermanence Skill; neither could he fathom what went on in this woman¡¯s heart. Therefore, Gongsun Ce said the following. ¡°It will be no problem if I can finish you within a minute.¡± ¡°Quite confident, young man!¡± Shiyu Ling pointed at the dragon beneath her feet, ¡°Dim your brilliance, Colored Glaze Dragon.¡± At first, he did not understand the significance of these instructions, blindly charging forward with the decision made a moment earlier. But when the light from the Colored Glaze Dragon dissipated with her words, and night¡¯s darkness enveloped the Dragon¡¯s Head, he finally comprehended the enemy¡¯s tactic. ¡°This move¡­!¡± Blue orchids sprouted amidst the pure white narcissus, and Shiyu Ling¡¯s laughter emanated from the sea of bi-colored flowers. ¡°Shadow Orchid, Youlan Sea!¡± Her body vanished before the young man, countless beams shot from the narcissus towards the orchids, refracted towards the foe, forming an unpredictable chaos of light streams. Of course, she could not count on this certainly landing a fatal blow, but the young man undeniably had to figure out a way to fend off this attack. In her mind, she issued the order to be indefensible and unevadable. As a result, Gongsun Ce, unable to locate his enemy, couldn¡¯t move from his spot while she could step out from every blossom. This was it; the operation failed this time. But she could delay enough time until her opponent¡¯s power waned¡­ She had won this battle! ¡°¡­ You must have been thinking just that, Miss Shiyu.¡± The superpower user did not panic. This was truly beyond his expectations, yet¡­ There was enough time. ¡°White Matter Wilderness.¡± The silver-haired youth pressed an arm downwards. White substance sprouted from his side, covering all the dragon scales of what was once a sea of flowers. Just as he had attempted before, the elegant daffodil suffered no damage from his attack, but the Shadow Orchid growing from the shadows shattered as the white substance enveloped it. The white wasteland continued to expand outward, covering the entire head of the Colored Glaze Dragon! ¡°There are no more shadows for you to hide in.¡± He had encountered the Shadow Orchid before, a tangible matter with mass and volume. Just needed to shatter it completely. The sole remaining orchid stood atop the dragon¡¯s head, blossoming amidst the white wasteland, within a small space purposefully left open. ¡°Nor is there any illusory dream left for you to indulge in.¡± Then, the Superpower User readied their genuine attack. Like Shiyu Ling¡¯s Spiritual Image¡¤Manifestation, like Yan Qi¡¯s Brahma Form¡¤Creation Realm, like the final resort those defeated enemies would use before the end¡­ The decisive assault that was certain to determine victory or defeat. Having lost nearly all her options, Shiyu Ling stepped out from the singular flower. She saw the raging wind rising from the side of the Superpower User, scattering all attacks that shot towards him. ¡¤ That wind originated from the palm of the Superpower User. Pure white substance entangled with the colorless void, spiraling together in his hand. It was not the strength of one person, nor was it from the same source; combining them would usually cause unprecedented rejection, but now they were entwined by the will of the Superpower User. Thus the two forces twisted together, alternatingly advancing. A huge amount of matter, enough to cover an area as vast as a Dragon Head in an instant, was brutally compressed into a white spear. Limiting the telekinetic force that could reach its maximum output to his hand, wrapping around the body of the spear like a fine thread, distorting its shape. The force that could erect skyscrapers in a wasteland, the force that could destroy a city block in an instant, now, under precise control, narrowed its area of effect to fit within a palm. Like compressing a nuclear warhead to the size of a grenade, the destructive power aligned with the vast volume was concentrated into a slender weapon¡­ The helical spear entangled and inseparable from each other. ¡°It¡¯s time to wake up from your dream, Shiyu Ling!¡± The power of annihilation circled in his hand, bringing forth a brilliant light and a tempestuous wind, like a torrent devouring everything else. No attacking objects could draw near; the mere presence of this phenomenon was an invincible barrier in the real world! He stepped forward, approaching the enemy who had nowhere to run. The never-ending rotation of the long spear grew larger, the tip emitting a mournful wail slicing through the air, making even the great Dragon Head tremble. The revolving power spread across the battlefield, making dragon scales invulnerable even to missiles crack and turn into golden dust, whirling in the wind! Gongsun Ce roared as he launched his final attack. A trump card made by concentrating all his power, utilized just this once. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°¡ª¡ªInstant Spiral!¡± The Spiral Spear pierced the sky. Directing the annihilating power that would burst forth in an instant at the body of Shiyu Ling. Then, Gongsun Ce charged toward his enemy. ¡¤ Now, what commands should be issued? If both abilities of the opponent were nullified, then she would be subject to a physical strike. Given the power he was currently exhibiting, even just his physically enhanced body could disperse a human¡¯s body. Unsure if nullifying just one ability would cause this inexplicable attack to explode in midair, shattering herself into pieces. Given enough time to think, she would have found a countermeasure. But now, less than a second remained, the Spiral Spear not yet launched, its spinning pressure alone nearly enough to bring her down. ¡°¡­¡± Looking back, there had been a misjudgment in strategy, perhaps. She had not anticipated the terrifying power that this Superpower User would possess when fully committed. His punches, normally three, had increased to a hundred folds. The scope of his abilities even covered the entire Dragon Head. And then, this finishing move even more fearsome than destructive manifestations. This man had also concealed his true strength before her¡­ but that¡¯s inevitable. One always needed to be extra cautious to survive in such a world. ¡°It¡¯s time to wake up from your dream, Shiyu Ling!¡± She heard that man¡¯s furious shout. A dream, huh. Not wrong at all. Maybe there was a chance of survival after beating the Superpower User here, maybe the Creator Realm Mage wouldn¡¯t be able to sustain the battle for too long¡­ such notions were lies even she herself didn¡¯t believe. She had understood when the Colored Glaze Dragon was restrained; her action had failed. Even if she took down the Superpower User here, official experts would arrive for cleanup. Even if the Colored Glaze Dragon escaped by chance, Shiyu Ling would have no way out. She merely wanted to die gracefully. Having lived such an ugly life, she should at least choose a less ugly end. Better to die as the villain at the hands of justice, in a fierce battle¡­ To die at the hands of a man with a kindred spirit, would be even more beautiful. ¡°I lost.¡± She chuckled softly, opening her arms to embrace the imminent death. Then¡ª The heavy sound of a fist striking flesh echoed high in the sky. Chapter 67 - 67 40 Self-Deprecation and Reckless Abandonment in the Face of Love ?67: Chapter 40 Self-Deprecation and Reckless Abandonment in the Face of Love 67: Chapter 40 Self-Deprecation and Reckless Abandonment in the Face of Love If one were to discuss what had just happened, it seemed likely that only the Superpower User was fully aware. Just as the Spiral Spear was about to strike the black-haired woman, it disintegrated midair, forming six sharp spikes that pierced through her body. Gongsun Ce¡¯s right fist swung upward with ferocious force, connecting with her jaw, ending the battle with a splendid uppercut. ¡°Hisss¡­ah! It hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts.¡± Overextending himself had aggravated the wound on his left arm. Gritting his teeth, he picked up his left hand from the ground and attached it to the white surface of the break. It was barely hanging on¡­but if he wanted it to heal properly, he¡¯d have to make a trip to the operating room after this fight was over. Gongsun Ce opened his pocket watch to take a look. The current time was 10:11:30, and it had been six and a half minutes since the Curse Scale had taken effect. The battle with Shiyu Ling had taken a total of 5 minutes and 15 seconds. ¡°You go for my heart, I return with a punch, and throw in six holes for good measure. Ahh, feels great! With that, we¡¯re even, Miss Shiyu.¡± Shiyu Ling lay sprawled on the scales of the giant dragon. Currently, she was undoubtedly gravely injured. From a professional¡¯s standpoint, she could only be considered slightly better than someone with just one breath left. ¡°¡­Heh. If you really like me that much, just finish me off.¡± ¡°What happens to you afterward is none of my concern. This time, because of Yan Qi, you didn¡¯t hurt any innocent citizens, so I only paid back what¡¯s mine. If you¡¯d actually caused a major disaster with the Dragon Disaster, I would have torn you to pieces myself, nothing more.¡± ¡°Still the selfish man! Unable to decide even life and death for oneself, I¡¯ve become so wretched!¡± Shiyu Ling laughed loudly, the movement causing fresh blood to seep from her wounds, but she didn¡¯t stop in the least. ¡°Tell me, Superpower User! Why am I being hunted down when all I did was avenge a group who deserved death a thousand times over? Why have I ended up like this when all I wanted was true freedom?¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you tell me instead, Impermanence Law Enforcer? Why was my heart torn out when I was simply doing a favor for you, my older sister? Why was this city nearly turned to statues previous to this when its people were merely living their lives as usual?¡± The Superpower User pushed up his glasses: ¡°Let me guess what you¡¯d reply, ¡®That¡¯s how unreasonable this world is,¡¯ right?¡± ¡°Ahya¡­ indeed, we are quite alike.¡± Was he similar to this woman? In the confidence he held in himself, in his abilities, and in his intellect, they might be. ¡°In our self-righteousness, we are alike.¡± The young man brandished his left arm to the other, the roughly reattached left hand shaking as if it might fall off at any moment. ¡°But I don¡¯t care about myself as much as you do.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± His hand-chop struck the woman¡¯s neck, abruptly silencing her laughter. Qin Qianbai squatted next to Shiyu Ling. She raised her hand, pondered for a moment, and then tapped twice more. ¡°Hey, if you tap her again, she really will die.¡± ¡°She deserves it.¡± Miss Qin tilted her head. ¡°Need help?¡± The gray-haired young man shook his head. ¡°Not necessary. Please clear the area; I¡¯ll be finished shortly.¡± ¡°Okay then, no idea what you¡¯re doing, but good luck.¡± Qin Qianbai, with the black-haired woman, leapt from the head of the giant dragon and walked away, stepping on the air. Now, in the high sky above Cangshou District, there was only one half-dead person and one badly wounded dragon left. Just like three years ago, at the end of Supibia. ¡°¡­Huh.¡± He controlled his body as it floated up, halting in front of the enormous golden Dragon Head. His gaze swept over the broken neck of the giant dragon, looking like two collapsing bridges. The difference from three years ago was that of the three-headed Colored Glaze Dragon, only one remained. He knew the reason behind this lamentable state. For the two Dragon Heads that had been lost belonged to the ones he had personally severed three years prior. ¡ªWhat is your wish? ¡ªEnter the world of Kong Hua. He heard such a voice speak in his heart. ¡ªI shall grant your wish. ¡ªThe Colored Glaze Dragon shall grant everyone¡¯s wishes. I wish for all those who died three years ago to be resurrected. I wish for everything lost three years ago to return. For a moment, he almost uttered these words out loud. But he was no dragon worshipper, nor was he an Impermanence Law Enforcer seeking power. Gongsun Ce could not allow himself to indulge in unattainable dreams like them. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I want to bring an end to the events of three years ago.¡± And so, the young man spoke. He reached out, calling for a power that was not his own. ¡°Come forth, the final black sword, the calamity of Silent Star.¡± Within the giant dragon, a cut opened in the center of Gongsun Ce¡¯s heart. Matter, far too vast to fit within a mere piece of flesh, slowly emerged from the wound as if pulled by an invisible hand. Warped cross-like spikes, a sword hilt wrapped in blood-red cloth, the ominous and sharp blade was like a darkness coalescing; it was as if night itself had taken shape into a sword. It was a sword, a pitch-black Longsword. It burst through the Colored Glaze Dragon¡¯s spine, finding its way into the hands of the gray-haired young man. The golden Dragon Blood streaked across the sky, like a dazzling Star River. The heartless giant dragon roared, its voice filled with agony, more strident than when it was pierced by a thousand blades. Gongsun Ce gripped the sword hilt tightly. This was not his sword; this weapon had never belonged to him. It once lay in the hands of a golden-haired, silver-armored Knight, who charged at the one-eyed giant dragon with it in hand. Back then, the weapon wasn¡¯t in this form but was a vast war machine with a magnificent silver-white exterior. Since then, the weapon had changed hands. What he now held was not a protector of life but a taker of life, a weapon with great power that protected nothing. The Superpower User thought self-destructively that he really couldn¡¯t become anything significant. If he truly was a knight protecting everyone, he would have killed Shiyu Ling right then and there. If he truly was a hero with justice as his creed, he should have prevented the arrival of the Colored Glaze Disaster at the onset. If he was a strategist with hundreds of schemes, he should have seen through others¡¯ plots midway through the events. If he was a cautious and careful planner, he should have avoided the misfortune of being ambushed at the last moment. He was still wavering, still hesitant, still emotional, still arrogant, still careless, still quick to anger. Gongsun Ce was a Superpower User, an extraordinary student, and that was all. If there was any true meaning to his existence, it probably lay in what he was about to do next. He enveloped the Longsword with white matter on both sides, altering it to resemble the shape it had three years ago, yet not quite the same. Instead of a silver-white giant sword, he could only create a plain white shell that wrapped around the black blade, glaring like a shoddy prop. It was but a poor imitation. He mimicked the movements of the woman from his memory, wielding the sword with both hands as he slashed at the indifferent giant dragon. Gongsun Ce whispered softly, ¡°Falling Arc Light.¡± A cross-shaped starburst erupted from the tip of the sword. The light was icy cold and piercingly sharp, impaling the head of the Evil Dragon, bleeding a red and black night. The color of blood, a reddish outer flame wrapped around dismal black light, became a cross shape etched into the body of the Colored Glaze Dragon. Two ancient scars flickered, tearing apart the colossal body, the flesh of the God collapsing from the sky and falling towards the city below, sprinkling onto the corpse of another deity. ¡ª Has your wish been fulfilled? He watched the final Dragon Head tear apart, hearing a faint call within his heart. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been fulfilled. Farewell, Colored Glaze Disaster.¡± No more voice echoed. The Dragon Head dissipated into light. On the night of February 13th, every inhabitant of the Cangshou District looked up at the sky. Whether it was the bigwigs in the high-rises or the ruffians in the streets, whether Superpower Users or Impermanence Law Enforcers, informed or uninformed, all were mere, fragile humans. Before such a magnificent sight, before powers transcending the mundane, everyone was equal. They witnessed the red and black light tearing the Colored Glaze Disaster asunder, a colossal cross emerging from the fissure of the dragon¡¯s body, as if an unknown deity was meting out divine punishment on the Evil Dragon. A light from nowhere swept across the sky, the blood and flesh of the Colored Glaze Dragon dissolving into light. The event was grand but silent, immense, yet soundless. Everyone gazed at that patch of red and black sky until the light faded, and darkness once more enveloped the city; only then did human voices emerge, breaking the silence. They were the ecstatic cheers of the citizens and the relieved sighs of the bigwigs. In the 66th-floor meeting room in the Cangshou District, everyone unconsciously paused in their actions. Liu Zhongwu and Onowell looked at everything displayed on the screen, sighing one after another. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over¡­¡± At the end of an alley in the Fixed Wing District, several exhausted An Yushi collapsed to the ground. A man in a robe sheathed his knife. He stepped over them, joining others on the bustling street to appreciate the cross of light in the night sky. He smiled and reached out to the sky. ¡°How beautiful.¡± At another end of the Fixed Wing District, inside a garden-style residential complex, a sweat-soaked young man clutched his chest as he rose from the ground. He ran out to the courtyard, just in time to witness the dragon¡¯s disintegration. ¡°Well done¡­ Ah Ce.¡± At the border of the Thorn District and the Central District, atop a tall building. Yan Qi flicked his brush, retracting the cage that had trapped the giant dragon back into the pen. He extended his palm to catch something falling from the sky. It was a glass bead that fell because of the dragon¡¯s death. The proud man laughed heartily. ¡°Well done, Gongsun boy!¡± Yet more voices spilled from the people¡¯s mouths. Their sounds echoed throughout the city; still, they could not reach the heights where Gongsun Ce floated. All he could feel was the silence. I should go back to rest, the Superpower User thought to himself. ¡°¡­¡± However, at that moment, a strange sensation of weariness appeared in his body. He could still lift the sword, could still breathe, should still be able to fly until he landed. But he was so tired, exhausted, he didn¡¯t want to do anything. He had to get back before the ten-minute limit was up. But first, let him rest just a few seconds¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Just a few seconds. Gongsun Ce closed his eyes. His body, drawn by gravity, began to fall. Just rest for three more seconds, no, four. With his descent, the soundless stillness finally left. With eyes closed, he could hear the whoosh of the wind. Below, there was a faint calling of people, mingled with laughter and tears, probably discussing what had just happened. As he fell, the lightless dark slowly brightened. With eyes shut, he could still sense the light. The Cangshou District beneath the night sky twinkled, light spilled from windows of the residential buildings, large advertisements glowed on the exteriors of tall buildings, and streetlights lined the roads endlessly. This was what Yan Qi had defended, what Qin Qianbai and Shiyu Lianyi had preserved, what unknown significant and minor figures had safeguarded¡­ and probably, what he himself had protected. Occasionally, he thought to himself, it¡¯s okay to be kind to oneself. Not everything is pointless, and it¡¯s not that nothing can be accomplished. At least this time, the Dragon Disaster hadn¡¯t destroyed the city. How long had he rested? He seemed to have forgotten how much time was left; was it time to open his eyes¡­ As he thought this, he felt himself hitting something. Not the hard ground, but caught by someone¡¯s arms. A slight itch passed over him, like hair brushing against his face, a familiar sensation, just as she had carried him out from underground before. ¡°Where¡¯s Shiyu Ling?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know, just tossed her aside.¡± You really are a petty person, aren¡¯t you? But after this, none of it would matter to him¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll just¡­¡± ¡°Yes, take a rest, Ah Ce.¡± Would she be smiling at this moment? She¡¯d probably reply without expression, as usual. Thus, the young man in Qin Qianbai¡¯s arms smiled and fell asleep. She carried her friend across the night sky. Heading towards the warm lights of the city. Chapter 68 - 68 41 Since Were Here ?68: Chapter 41: Since We¡¯re Here 68: Chapter 41: Since We¡¯re Here Mr. Yan Qi tossed the glass bead in his hand, making smacking sounds continuously. ¡°Also this broken thing¡­ Tsk¡­ Huh?¡± Miss Qin Qianbai, holding the gray-haired young man, landed beside him. Gongsun Ce had already fallen into a deep sleep; his Black Sword in hand was trembling increasingly violently, indicating an extremely ominous omen. Yan Qi looked at the Black Sword, then at the glass bead, and maliciously curved the corner of his mouth. ¡°Hey, since it¡¯s already like this¡­ Put him down.¡± Miss Qin, without a word, stepped back two steps, looking very much like a mother hen protecting her chick. ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± The tall man snickered, ¡°I¡¯m going to save your lives! Use your brain, girl. Does that look like anything good to you?¡± He was, without a doubt, pointing at the sword in Gongsun Ce¡¯s hand. The Black Sword that had slain the giant dragon. He could smell an inauspicious scent of blood emanating from the sword; merely looking at it made his eyes ache. Could this be a weapon to protect humanity? The martial artist¡¯s intuition objected, that was impossible. What he had previously seen was not a human slaying the Dragon Disaster, but a natural disaster being consumed by another calamity. It was a disaster equivalent to the Colored Glaze Disaster, perhaps even¡­ ¡°A terrible thing indeed.¡± ¡°No shit. Listen up, no matter what you see, don¡¯t panic.¡± Miss Qin carefully placed the gray-haired young man on the rooftop. Mr. Yan Qi stepped forward and poked the young man¡¯s arm with the tip of his foot. Gongsun Ce did not move an inch. The tall man spoke in his unique weird tone, ¡°Dawn Knight is here!¡± Gongsun Ce jolted to a sitting position, as if awoken from a nightmare, ¡°Who?! Where?!¡± Mr. Yan Qi cursed, ¡°Speaking nonsense? Remove your temporary heart, I¡¯m giving you a new one.¡± A man in black official attire walked behind Mr. Yan Qi and silently paid his respects. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He handed over a transparent jar and silently left after Mr. Yan took it. Through the outer wall, one could see inside the jar, a green-colored cultivating liquid with a faintly beating heart. The Superpower User shivered, ¡°What is that?! Whose heart?!¡± ¡°Quit your yapping, get to work!¡± The gray-haired youth cursed loudly, tapped his chest with his right hand, the white mass filling the wound dispersed, revealing the terrible scar underneath. Mr. Yan Qi, without another word, took the heart out of the jar and thrust it into the young man¡¯s chest, his actions as rough as a monk driving stakes. ¡°¡­!¡± Gongsun Ce let out an indescribable scream, and the new heart started to beat, connecting to the blood vessels with white mass in the youth¡¯s chest once again. ¡°It¡¯s connected, Gongsun boy¡­¡± Mr. Yan Qi chuckled, tossing the Netherworld Dragon¡¯s eyeball. ¡°Hit!¡± He flicked his finger, and the glass bead shot forward, striking right into the Superpower User¡¯s heart! ¡°You?!¡± Neither Superpower User had anticipated such a development. Gongsun Ce felt as if all the blood in his body was flowing backward. Before he could react, he heard the man shout, ¡°Move faster!¡± The gray-haired young man swore dirtily, ¡°Have you gone fucking mad?!¡± He grabbed the Black Sword and violently stabbed the tip into his heart. Blood flowed out from the wound and did not fall to the ground, but rather followed the blade upward, merging into the cloth wrapped around the hilt that was soaked in blood. Mr. Yan Qi took out a brush from his pocket and sketched swiftly above the hilt of the sword. He drew a neat pentagram and slapped forward, ¡°Seal!¡± The ink-colored pentagram pushed the Black Sword forward, and the sharp weapon, which should have pierced the young man¡¯s chest, slowly disappeared, as if hiding in his heart. Until at last, even the spike at the hilt¡¯s end could not be seen. The ink star marked the heart¡¯s wound, making it heal as before, then it faded away and vanished. ¡°That damned thing¡­¡± Gongsun Ce barely patched up the hole in his chest with the white mass and cursed with his last ounce of strength before closing his eyes and fainting. The Creator Realm Mage put away the brush, ¡°One more isn¡¯t many! It¡¯s done. Let¡¯s go celebrate!¡± Miss Qin stood still, unmoving, ¡°Look at that, it¡¯s the face preparing to give you a good beating. What exactly did you do just now?¡± The tall man stroked his chin, pondering, ¡°You have two bombs at hand, once detonated, at the least they would destroy a city, at worst, they would affect the world. And there¡¯s only one suitable safebox at the scene¡­ So what are you going to do?¡± Qin Qianbai stared at him expressionlessly, ¡°Find another two more appropriate safeboxes, not ones intended for humans.¡± Mr. Yan Qi burst out laughing. ¡°Three years ago, there were plenty who could wield a sword, but now, only he remains! To separate them is a bad idea; the risk of an incident would double. Anyway, if there¡¯s a problem, everyone is doomed, might as well seal them together, convenient and safe.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s just for that reason.¡± ¡°I do have my own considerations, but¡­¡± The tall man shrugged his shoulders, ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern¡ªdamn!¡± Yan Qi hadn¡¯t finished speaking when the girl from the Martial Arts Faction could no longer hold back. She stepped forward and punched the man crisply in the belly, causing the lout to roll on the ground clutching his stomach. ¡°You little brat, wait and see! I¡¯m definitely going to complain to the old man, you won¡¯t get a cent of reward this time!!¡± ¡°Grandpa would join me in hitting you if he saw this.¡± Miss Qin carried her unconscious friend on her back and walked over to the man lying on the ground, ¡°Where is Mr. Shiyu?¡± The middle-aged man who didn¡¯t act his age lazily replied, ¡°The foolish kid went to fight with a lunatic.¡± Miss Qin shook her head speechlessly. Everything she saw this afternoon was confusing to her. By usual reasoning, now would be the time to go to the hospital, but just now Yan Qi had said they were going to have a celebration banquet. Well, there was no danger to life anymore, so she decided to go. She made up her mind and followed the cursing man, leaving the rooftop. February 13th, at exactly 11 pm. ¡°You bastard!!¡± The second Gongsun Ce recovered from his unconsciousness, he sat up angrily and yelled. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s scary. When did I ever offend you?¡± The first person he saw was not the arrogant middle-aged man or the expressionless girl but the overweight young man he had met that afternoon. Mo Yuankai was sitting at the guest table, peeling an orange with his hands. The grey-haired young man looked around the environment; he saw a television that took up most of the wall and many familiar decorations, and then he realized he was lying on the couch of the information dealer. This was Mo Yuankai¡¯s home. Gongsun Ce took off his glasses and covered his forehead, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, big brother, it wasn¡¯t intentional.¡± ¡°Now you know to call me big brother.¡± The grey-haired young man put his hands together in prayer. ¡°I was trying to remind you something was off before¡­¡± ¡°Right. You¡¯ve been calling me big brother for over 6 years; you walk in today and the first thing you say is Ah Kai, even my knees knew something was wrong,¡± the overweight youth threw the orange peel into the trash can, ¡°I¡¯m not as good with words as you, I was sweating bullets talking to her, afraid of giving us away. When you first messaged, you only mentioned asking for information and picking up stuff on the way, and you should have told me about the acting beforehand.¡± Gongsun Ce shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it. I only really confirmed she was not a Hunter after dinner.¡± ¡°Since when do you know about Hunters?¡± Even without knowledge about the profession of a Hunter, it was possible to notice the suspicious aspects exhibited by Alice. Not to mention the ability to detect lies, but how exactly did Alice manage to put two evil spellcasters to flight with just her power before encountering him? Even if Tierlos and Capro were busy searching for an entrance to the underground, they should not have been left in such a state by a Hunter who only had Shadow Orchid and Demon-breaking Arrow¡­ The most logical explanation he could come up with was that Alice¡¯s true strength far exceeded her own performance. With this caution in mind, it was natural to become more aware of the unnatural aspects of her discourse. Gongsun Ce shrugged, ¡°She says Sky Extreme is a calamity among free people who only craves battle, a madman. Putting aside that Yan Qi isn¡¯t so belligerent, would the Country give such information to its subordinates? No knight¡¯s underling could describe someone who helped Supibia three years ago like that.¡± Mo Yuankai pondered for a while and said, ¡°Battle-maniac, free person, calamity¡­ It¡¯s not Sky Extreme, but there is such a person in the Empire.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing she deliberately mixed up the information to you so that you would be hostile towards Mr. Yan. Think about it, she took the Country¡¯s information, she must know Sky Extreme has a good relationship with the officials, and if she¡¯s unlucky enough to encounter him, she can use your hostility to disrupt the situation and escape; sounds reasonable, right?¡± The United States¡¯ agent was ambushed before making an official entry. If the Country¡¯s force was indeed insufficient as she said, they would most likely encounter people from the Empire next. To be cautious, it made sense to mix up the information under the guise of sharing knowledge as a backup plan. As for the accidental encounter with a Superpower User who knew the Creator Realm Mage personally, that was something Shiyu Ling could not have anticipated. ¡°Too clever for one¡¯s own good¡­¡± He had just said it when he felt like it was a self-mockery, so he hastily changed the subject, ¡°Where did that bastard Yan Qi go? He just stuffed a dragon¡¯s eyeball into my heart!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame Mr. Yan, he must have had his considerations,¡± the overweight young man offered an orange, ¡°Have an orange to calm down.¡± ¡°Oranges cause heat.¡± ¡°Frozen oranges reduce heat.¡± He took the orange and shoved it whole into his mouth. The teeth piercing the icy fruit released the tart and sweet juice, exploding in his mouth with an indescribable sourness and a different kind of refreshment. The citrus flesh slid down into his stomach, awakening a long-hidden hunger. Only then did he remember the last proper meal he had was at the noodle shop, almost 5 hours ago. Along with hunger came weakness and fatigue. He covered his stomach with his left hand, about to say he was starving when he realized his wrist was moving flexibly, as if it had never been severed. The Superpower User lifted his shirt and found that the earlier wounds filled with white matter had completely healed. ¡°Did you call a ¡®doctor¡¯ to the house?¡± ¡°With such severe injuries, you were thinking of staying in a hospital? Of course, I used superpowers to heal,¡± the information dealer got a can of cola from the fridge, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the money, Mr. Yan is covering it this time.¡± ¡°So many years a loyal customer and not a discount.¡± ¡°The ¡®doctor¡¯ on his way out still said that after so many years, you haven¡¯t learned your lesson. Getting into a fight and ending up like this, you deserve to spend a fortune on treatment.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, ah, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s taught by example. Got any supper? I¡¯m starving to death.¡± The overweight young man exclaimed dramatically, ¡°Wow! All of this is my fault? Mr. Yan and Qin Qianbai went to buy food, they should be back soon. Speaking of which, you¡¯ve known her for three years and it seems like you¡¯re still treading water; any progress there?¡± ¡°What progress, we¡¯re just ordinary friends, okay. I¡¯ve been single since I can remember, unlike you,¡± the Superpower User waved his hand, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing to eat, I¡¯m going to wash my face¡­ ow hey, I¡¯m dead tired today¡­ both sleepy and hungry.¡± The Superpower User headed toward the bathroom on the first floor, the information dealer waited a few seconds until he entered the door before saying, ¡°Forgot to tell you, there¡¯s someone in the bathroom on the first floor.¡± Chapter 69 - 69 42 Each with Difficulties ?69: Chapter 42: Each with Difficulties 69: Chapter 42: Each with Difficulties ¡°¡­¡± He slowly stripped off his suit. The blood-stained outer garment fell to the ground, leaving only the white undershirt. He carefully lifted the shirt, trying not to let the frayed fibers stick to the wound. It was a painful process, the wound occasionally being pulled, causing him to let out harsh, heavy breaths. ¡°¡­huff¡­¡± Finally, he removed his shirt. He took off his blood-stained white gloves and gazed at himself in the mirror. His bare torso was covered in ugly scars, old injuries that had existed for a long time. His body was as unbearable to look at as his usually concealed hands, equally dreadful. Now his torso had acquired a dozen new knife wounds, the most severe one ran from his shoulder down to his waist, almost bisecting his upper body. All the wounds had only sliced through flesh without touching the bones; rather than being lucky, it was more accurate to say that the assailant¡¯s skills were extremely proficient. He could heal these wounds in an instant if he paid the price¡­ However, the price paid would never return. If the condition for healing his own injuries was to suffer another kind of harm, what was the point of such a trade? A curse is not a miracle. He repeated this well-known truth in his mind, admonishing himself. He turned to turn on the faucet when the bathroom door opened, and the gray-haired superpower user stood at the doorway, facing him. ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Shiyu Lianyi gave a bitter smile. He remembered locking the door; such an occurrence was probably the handiwork of that information broker. Gongsun Ce walked in silently, turned on the tap, and manipulated the hot water to rise in swirls, washing his friend¡¯s wounds. Shiyu Lianyi raised his hand helplessly, ¡°Ouch¡­ It¡¯s only been such a short time, and your wounds are all healed, what an impressive doctor.¡± ¡°Second-rate medical skills, first-rate superpower, exceedingly first-rate treatment cost, altogether makes a first-rate doctor, I guess.¡± When Gongsun Ce was treated just now, Shiyu Lianyi must have been in the room as well. The ¡°doctor¡± wouldn¡¯t mind earning a bit more, and Mo Yuankai wouldn¡¯t stop the treatment. The young man in the suit chose to handle his wounds alone, that must have been his own wish. Gongsun Ce¡¯s gaze swept over the scars on his friend¡¯s body. Every day, Shiyu Lianyi wore a suit and gloves, hardly exposing any skin beyond his face. He always looked so dashing and proper, as if a character stepping out of a painting. ¡°I have long suggested that you undergo cosmetic surgery.¡± After roughly cleaning the wounds, Gongsun Ce found a bottle of medical alcohol, using telekinesis to control the colorless, transparent liquid to float out from the bottle, starting the disinfection. ¡°That hurts¡­ That won¡¯t do, the effect of the Impermanence Skill would weaken.¡± What about it? What¡¯s so good about power obtained with such a price, wiping away all past traces and cleanly starting a new life? Gongsun Ce admitted, more or less harboring such thoughts in his heart. But it was something he couldn¡¯t voice, not only because his friend¡¯s abilities had saved him tonight, but also because everyone has their choices. Personal matters are only clear to oneself, and outsiders shouldn¡¯t recklessly interfere, even the closest friends can only make suggestions, never having the right to persuade others to accept them. ¡°It will hurt a bit, hang in there.¡± Gongsun Ce ran his fingers across his friend¡¯s body, the white substance filling the wounds, playing the role of stopping the blood. ¡°From my experience, it should hurt less in about ten or fifteen minutes. Complete healing will take longer, for yours at least two or three days.¡± ¡°Thank you, Gongsun.¡± Shiyu Lianyi was also pondering what exactly was the ability his friend used? A robust material also serving as a healing ability sounded too bizarre, and was unrelated to the telekinesis he often used. But it was not his place to ask directly, just as the other didn¡¯t inquire about what he had done, everyone has secrets they don¡¯t wish to share with others. The superpower user finished tending to his friend¡¯s wounds, then he turned on the tap to wash his face, and for a moment, only the sound of running water filled the bathroom. The two men were silent until the gray-haired youth turned off the tap and said, ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand Shiyu Ling.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Everywhere. Alice is just a role being played¡­ I can¡¯t convince myself to believe that. Even after revealing her true nature, her words and actions have changed a lot, but it¡¯s not like she¡¯s become a different person.¡± Shiyu Ling would still react to his jokes. Shiyu Ling still carried the same tone when speaking. Shiyu Ling would still let out surprised sighs, like a hopeless single older woman. It didn¡¯t feel like fighting a mortal enemy, more like an old companion showing a side of strangeness. Shiyu Lianyi said, ¡°Sister Ling, well, that¡¯s just the way she is¡ª¡± ¡°Wait a second, what kind of title is ¡®Sister Ling¡¯?¡± Shiyu Lianyi picked up the dirty gloves, seemingly uncertain what to do with them,¡±Most of the Shiyus have been trained together since childhood. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. We don¡¯t share blood relations, but having grown up together, we are like true family to each other.¡± I think there might also be elements pushed deliberately by the researchers, Shiyu Lianyi added subsequently. Gongsun Ce recalled their names. Shiyu Ling, Shiyu 0. Shiyu Lianyi, Shiyu Ling one, Shiyu 01. The gray-haired youth gasped: ¡°I just imagined her calling you little brother and it made my skin crawl!¡± Chapter 70 - 70 42 Each Has Its Difficulties_2 ?70: Chapter 42 Each Has Its Difficulties_2 70: Chapter 42 Each Has Its Difficulties_2 ¡°Haha,¡± Shiyu Lianyi stuffed the blood-stained clothes into a plastic bag he found in the bathroom cabinet, ¡°how do you view ¡®Alice¡¯?¡± ¡°She¡¯s¡­¡± The young man recalled their casual conversation from earlier in the day and said to his friend. Alice is a strong, independent woman. She doesn¡¯t think much of official personnel and harbors a subtle hostility towards them. She¡¯s confident in her own abilities and also possesses a sense of responsibility and plain justice. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s clear from many details that she¡¯s not flush with cash, but she¡¯s working hard to earn money and improve her life. When she looked over her and Mo Yuankai¡¯s residence, envy that she couldn¡¯t quite hide gleamed in her eyes. She must want a home of her own¡ªnothing luxurious, just something comfortable. She¡¯s not as mature as she appears, instead retaining a girlish innocence, believing that as long as those around her are truthful, she won¡¯t be deceived. She loves adventure, she loves freedom¡­ The Superpower User concluded with those words. ¡°When I took her on a pigeon ride, she said she was very happy. I don¡¯t think that was a lie.¡± At that time, Alice, at that time, Shiyu Ling, her joy wasn¡¯t a deliberate facade but an emotion that sprang from the heart. ¡ª¡±This is probably¡­ no, it may actually be the happiest moment of my life from my birth until now.¡± She had said during a previous battle that she had no regrets. Thinking back now, that was actually a lie. ¡ª¡±It¡¯s time for you to bow out. An ordinary person like you and your little girlfriend should enjoy everyday life¡ªthat¡¯d be for the best.¡± ¡ª¡±It¡¯s rare for someone to ride pigeons with me and enjoy the scenery; I don¡¯t want to see you die in a chaotic mess.¡± The woman had said such things while resting at the ramen shop. Perhaps she did enjoy the pigeon flight so much that the happiness made her momentarily tender-hearted, leading her to abandon her plans to use the Superpower User. If he had agreed with her suggestion back then, how might things have unfolded? He couldn¡¯t know what the future might have held; he just finished his story and awaited his friend¡¯s response. ¡°I see.¡± Shiyu Lianyi ceased his actions in his hands, ¡°Do you know, Gongsun? With very few exceptions, ordinary Impermanence Law Enforcers can only study one type of Spiritual Image in their lifetime. Just like how a Superpower User will only have one superpower, it¡¯s not that it can¡¯t be done, it¡¯s that it just isn¡¯t possible.¡± He remembered the flowers beside that woman. Spiritual Image¡¯s daffodil, Brahma¡¯s appearance¡¯s blue orchid. ¡°Shiyu Ling can use two types of Impermanence Skill. Is this what Shiyu Research Institute did to her? Double personalities¡­ that¡¯s not quite right.¡± ¡°Her other side would be a more appropriate description,¡± said Shiyu Lianyi as he tied up the plastic bag, ¡°she told me when we were children that she¡¯d find a way to escape the research institute one day. She wanted to travel the world like the adventurers in the stories, buy her own house and live a life of freedom.¡± Was it just role-playing? Or was it that, during the process, she gradually revealed the emotions hidden inside her heart? Or was it that, during the process, the suppressed desires inside her started to surface? ¡°Rather than saying she was playing the role of Alice¡­¡± He finished the conclusion for his friend. ¡°It¡¯s more like, Alice is the person she wanted to become.¡± ¡¤ Shiyu Lianyi looked troubled at the plastic bag. The Superpower User left the room and returned a minute later, holding an anime T-shirt with long sleeves and a pair of jeans. The Zero Island youngster stared at the commanding robot that dominated most of the T-shirt, ¡°Not that, Gongsun.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also one with a swimsuit anime girl on it; those were all acquired by Mo Yuankai for his collection and he never got the chance to wear them. Any of the others would probably fit you like a bathrobe.¡± Shiyu Lianyi forced a wry smile as he put on the clothes, and the grey-haired youth handed him a pair of cleaning gloves for protection. ¡°It¡¯s too much¡­¡± ¡°Make do with it, alright?¡± They walked out of the bathroom and greeted the information dealer who was drinking cola and watching TV. Shiyu Lianyi sat down on the wooden chair in the living room, looking somewhat awkward. He could totally understand the other party. Anyone who showed up in front of people they weren¡¯t quite familiar with, dressed in a shirt emblazoned with ¡°Invincible Steel Brave!¡± and wearing a pair of pink cleaning gloves, would look awkward. Mo Yuankai gave the thumbs-up to the man in the anime T-shirt: ¡°It fits you so well, you can have it!¡± ¡°Tha¡­Thank you.¡± The atmosphere seemed to grow even more awkward, and Gongsun Ce decided to change the subject, ¡°So, what exactly is going on here?¡± ¡°When we were near the ramen shop, I had only just realized what was happening, and I was not very clear about what had occurred. To be honest, I was also surprised to see Sister Ling and Gongsun acting together.¡± Shiyu Lianyi slightly adjusted his collar and continued, ¡°But if I recklessly made an appearance, it might tip off the officials and lead to suspicions about ¡®Alice¡¯. I decided to first warn you not to act rashly and wait for the right opportunity to make contact, to work together as a ¡®local helper of the Azure Sky City¡¯.¡± If Shiyu Lianyi had joined in midway, what would have changed? Just like he could recognize Shiyu Ling, ¡®Alice¡¯ would surely be able to recognize him as well. With Mr. Shiyu¡¯s help, dealing with the giant dragon worshippers should be quite simple. And as long as he revealed his identity to his friend during the process and secretly used his superpower to say a few words to Shiyu Ling, that woman would likely abandon her plans to summon the giant dragon¡­ ¡°Then we¡¯d have an exciting and thrilling night, preserving the peace of the city. Afterwards, Miss Alice Adar would leave Azure Sky City, Shiyu Ling would still be on the run, and my heart wouldn¡¯t have to be yanked in and out like it was today; everyone would be well?¡± Shiyu Lianyi said with a smile, ¡°I think it¡¯s a very good development. But I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Yan Qi to come¡­¡± They looked towards the TV, where the screen was filled with emergency reports on the Colored Glaze Disaster. The front-line reporter excitedly shouted, ¡°According to the data received so far, the death toll in this Dragon Disaster is an unprecedented zero!¡± The screen quickly switched to a segment with an expert, a bald man with a golden beard, who spoke solemnly about how the Dragon Disaster was being handled by major kingdoms, with local institutions of Azure Sky City actively responding, and how, only after using the latest developed top-secret bio-weapon, did they achieve zero casualties¡­ Gongsun Ce thought to himself that the old principal¡¯s acting skills were indeed professional, as he could spout such far-fetched nonsense without batting an eye. Mo Yuankai clicked his tongue and turned off the TV. He took a sip of his ice-cold cola and said to Shiyu Lianyi, ¡°No wonder. You are trying to save Gongsun, save Shiyu Ling, and preserve Azure Sky City all at once, yet in the middle, Mr. Yan comes along saying he wants to kill the dragon. You could only save Gongsun first, then help with the slaying, and finally rescue Shiyu Ling, getting yourself into this mess¡­ really, what¡¯s the point?¡± The grey-haired youth¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Hey bro, that¡¯s his personal business¡ªAh!¡± The older brother flicked his finger and tapped his forehead, causing Gongsun Ce to fall over, holding his head. ¡°What personal business? Shiyu Lianyi wasn¡¯t around and you would¡¯ve died early tonight. He just almost got chopped into minced meat and you helped with his wounds. Do you understand what friendship is, Ah Ce? The kind of relationship where you risk life and limb, you can ask about these things!¡± Gongsun Ce lay on the sofa howling, and Shiyu Lianyi couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Haha. Actually, it¡¯s nothing; I just went to save Sister Ling, that¡¯s why I ended up like this.¡± Gongsun Ce looked at his friend with a hollow gaze, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Mr. Shiyu.¡± ¡°You too, Gongsun.¡± He extended his fist and gently bumped it against his friend¡¯s. At that moment, the front door was banged upon loudly by an impatient visitor. Gongsun Ce opened the door to see a frustrated Yan Qi and Qin Qianbai holding a bottle of champagne. The Empire¡¯s expert entered and cursed, ¡°Damn modern city, a dragon disaster at night and all the restaurants are closed, ended up with nothing but the community¡¯s homestyle restaurant! Saving the world only to eat stir-fry for supper, what kind of times are these!¡± Gongsun Ce used his powers to move several large food containers to the dining table. Miss Qin Qianbai swirled the champagne bottle, ¡°Look at this; this is the champagne that Yan Qi kicked open the store door for and forcefully bought in his frustration.¡± The superpower user nodded slowly, addressing a middle-aged man, ¡°Do you have something you want to say to me?¡± Yan Qi sneered, ¡°What do you want to hear? Do you want me to praise you for a job well done?¡± Gongsun Ce clenched his fist. ¡°Yan Qi¡ª!!!!¡± With rage beyond its limit, he threw a punch at the expert¡¯s face, knocking him to the ground. ¡°Stupid brat!¡± The expert on the ground cursed as he got up, engaging in a physical conflict with the superpower user. The female college student quietly tripped him, and as a result, Yan Qi stumbled just as he stood up, regretfully finding himself at a disadvantage in the fight. Qin Qianbai popped the champagne cork. Foam and liquid burst from the neck of the bottle with a pop, and the rich aroma filled the living room as she said expressionlessly, ¡°Champagne¡¯s open.¡± Chapter 71 - 71 43 The Celebration Banquet and the Alley ?71: Chapter 43: The Celebration Banquet and the Alley 71: Chapter 43: The Celebration Banquet and the Alley One side was a superpower user capable of slaying dragons, and the other, an Impermanence Law Enforcer from the Creation Realm. The top-notch duel between these two extraordinary powerhouses was spectacular. They employed a variety of simplistic techniques including uppercuts, swing punches, stomps, elbow strikes, side kicks, and headbutts, accompanied by Mystical Spells that were strikingly similar to the cursing and swearing in a street fight, making it the highest quality one-on-one battle of the day. The ultimate battle ended when the remaining two male members in the house each drew back, the man in the black coat had his eyes bruised blue, and the grey-haired man with glasses had his lips swollen; to an observer, it seemed a draw. They sat down by the dining table amidst the smirks and rolling eyes from others and casually began devouring their meals from the lunch boxes; by this time, Miss Qin was nearly finished with her twice-cooked pork. ¡°So,¡± Gongsun Ce opened a packet of saut¨¦ed green peppers and potatoes, frowned, and pushed it towards his elder brother, but it was sternly pushed back, ¡°What exactly happened this time?¡± In front of Yan Qi was a box of stir-fried bitter gourd with bean curd which he unhesitatingly swapped with the boiled beef that Shiyu Lianyi had just opened, leaving Mr. Shiyu¡¯s hand awkwardly suspended in mid-air with his chopsticks. ¡°Two matters got tangled,¡± Yan Qi spoke while eating, ¡°The sealing¡¯s efficacy has weakened; you¡¯re not dim enough to fail to notice that, are you?¡± ¡°¡­I guessed as much.¡± The increasingly frequent nightmares, always replaying the same event in the dreams. Initially thought to be mere psychological trauma from the events, various treatments had been tried without any success. By today, even a short nap in the afternoon would trigger those nightmares to recur. Having ruled out all other possibilities, only one factor came to mind¡­ The cursed sword sealed within his heart was gradually exerting its influence. ¡°The hasty seal was never adequate, and since it can¡¯t be mended, it must be removed and then sealed again, which means you need to die once,¡± he pointed at the young man opposite him with his chopsticks, ¡°but I haven¡¯t even started on that, when a gang of lunatics with the eye of the Netherworld Dragon showed up. I negotiated with the Emperor for a long time before we just decided to handle it together.¡± Gongsun Ce furrowed his brows, ¡°Huh? What are you saying?¡± Yan Qi flicked his beef with the chopsticks, splattering chili oil everywhere, ¡°Think, Gongsun kid. Why prevent the Dragon Disaster?¡± ¡°Because the appearance of giant dragons causes irreversible destruction and, at the same time, conventional weapons cannot harm them¡­¡± Humans are incapable of injuring dragons. Except for the experts who practice the Dragon Slaying Skill and certain young people with superpowers that defy common sense. ¡°Things aren¡¯t the same as they were three years ago; all the conditions needed to kill a giant dragon have been met, and it¡¯s the Colored glaze Dragon you almost killed coming,¡± Yan Qi chewed his beef and laughed, ¡°Ha! I¡¯ll tamper with the energy source, how can it survive and return?¡± In the Sky Extreme¡¯s Creation Realm mingled with the dragon phenomenon, his secretly set trap significantly worsened the already weakened state of the Colored glaze Dragon, and his Impermanence Skill turned the giant dragon into a mere sitting duck. Thus, the only missing condition was the power to kill the giant dragon. Conveniently, Sky Extreme was here precisely for that; everything was falling into place. But this thought led to¡­ The grey-haired young man stood up leaning on the table, ¡°Were you planning to use my heart to summon the Colored glaze Dragon all along?!¡± Sky Extreme burst into laughter. ¡°With the perfect alignment of time, location, and people, how could we miss such an opportunity! Even if by accident another regent arrived, we¡¯d definitely slay it completely tonight!¡± He threw down his chopsticks and stood up, ¡°Don¡¯t want to see the tragedy repeated? What¡¯s the use of stopping the descent of the dragon! If it happens again in dozens or hundreds of years, where would we get such a chance again? Kill all the dragons, and there will be no more Dragon Disasters!¡± Yan Qi, like an orator, waved his hands as he shared his thoughts with the younger superpower users. His eyes were filled with arrogance and conceit, but they also held an incredibly firm confidence. This man was not deceiving himself, nor was he making excuses for his actions; he believed in his own words more than anyone and had turned his wild ideas into reality! At this moment, he no longer looked like the uncouth ruffian he usually was but rather like a significant figure far beyond the reach of ordinary people¡ªthat was until Miss Qin put down her chopsticks and asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal with the hearts of us superpower users?¡± Yan Qi immediately reverted to his usual self, sat back on his stool, and, with his legs crossed, said, ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± Qin Qianbai silently flexed his knuckles, readying himself to assist. An Empire expert lazily called out, ¡°Mr. Shiyu!¡± Shiyu Lianyi, who was sullenly eating bitter gourd, looked up at his friends as usual and said, ¡°What Mr. Yan Qi means is, some things are better left unknown. I think so too.¡± Gongsun Ce pointed to himself, ¡°Another question, whose heart did you just implant in me?¡± The Creator Realm Mage, while picking his teeth, said, ¡°Whose else could it be? You think we put a dog¡¯s heart in you?¡± Mo Yuankai restrained the outraged superpower user. Mr. Shiyu seized the opportunity to hastily explain, ¡°It should be a heart cloned from Gongsun¡¯s genetic information, biologically identical to the original. Who knows, it might even be healthier than the original?¡± After receiving the somewhat vague explanation, his friends reluctantly nodded. ¡°Mr. Shiyu, wearing that outfit and speaking in your normal tone makes it sound like you¡¯re explaining your own delusional disorder.¡± Qin Qianbai pulled out her phone and just happened to capture the moment Shiyu Lianyi raised his hand to stop her, ¡°Post it on the school forum.¡± ¡°Good idea, go ahead, Miss!¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t¡­¡± Miss Qin put away her phone, thought for a moment, and said, ¡°Send it to Kardesia instead.¡± ¡°Great idea, go ahead, Miss!¡± ¡°Spare me¡­¡± In the face of his friends¡¯ malicious taunting, Mr. Shiyu raised both hands in surrender. Yan Qi burst into weird laughter as he watched Mo Yuankai pick up a champagne bottle and fill five glasses. ¡°Alright. Regardless, today¡¯s affairs have finally concluded. Saying we saved the world might be an exaggeration, but saying we saved the city is definitely appropriate.¡± The information broker lifted his glass. ¡°There will always be many issues to address, but frowning won¡¯t rid us of troubles, so let¡¯s celebrate our victory for now. After today, there will be no more Colored Glaze Disaster!¡± Yan Qi took a glass and laughed, ¡°See, everyone should learn from him. To today¡¯s victory!¡± The five, with different expressions, clinked their glasses, producing a crisp sound. It was unclear who led the call, but they started chanting together in the restaurant. ¡°To victory!¡± ¡¤ Compared to the brightly lit room, there were areas in the city engulfed in utter darkness. They were the bowels of the earth, isolated laboratories, and also pitch-black, gloomy alleys. A man in a long robe was strolling through the alley. ¡°Another Shiyu.¡± He stopped in his tracks. At the far end of the alley lay a woman with black hair, covered in numerous injuries. Blood continuously seeped out from her wounds, and her strength drained away along with it, rendering her nearly unable to speak. With her black eyes, she could only glare fiercely at the enemy who was approaching. ¡°I want to see you manifest.¡± The man in the robe drew his long sword. The blade was dim, the body of the sword yellowish, like a glow from the clouds at sunset, bewildering and vague, lingering in the viewers¡¯ eyes just before fading. He spoke to the woman who was barely clinging to life. ¡°Let¡¯s fight.¡± He did not aim the blade at his opponent but simply assumed a fighting stance. The man¡¯s face wore a gentle smile. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As though speaking to a small child, he repeated to the heavily wounded woman, who would not be surprising if she died in the next second, ¡°Let¡¯s fight.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Shiyu Ling struggled to get up. This was exceedingly difficult for her in her current state; she tried several times and fell several times. The man in the robe patiently waited, without uttering a single word of haste, until his opponent managed to stand up, drawing upon the power that sprung from her heart. ¡°Very good.¡± He softly praised. The dim light of the blade flashed past. ¡¤ ¡°Yawn~¡± The blonde woman, wearing a top hat, yawned as she stepped out of her house. Tonight, the Colored Glaze Disaster struck the city. This should have been an event that impacted countless lives. Unexpectedly, just ten minutes later, the giant dragon died right before everyone¡¯s eyes. Living in the Fixed Wing District, she didn¡¯t even react immediately to what had happened. She just heard a massive sound from underground and a burst of light nearby. Could it be a dragon? She called Lianyi, but nobody answered. Her concern for her friend and internal curiosity overcame her fear, and she hurriedly headed towards the central district¡­ And then she was stopped on the street by some stern-faced people in gray clothes. That made sense, government wouldn¡¯t let locals interfere¡­ No amount of griping could justify obstructing relief efforts due to personal interests. Later, Lianyi called, saying she had just sheltered from the disaster with two other people, secretly having some fun¡­ After scolding her friend, she put away her phone with relief and looked up to see a magnificent sight of a red-black cross in the sky. What a beautiful sight. Unfortunately, being pulled aside for checks by the people in gray wasn¡¯t quite as romantic after that. Thinking about it on the bright side was good, too. Having the checks done early meant she wouldn¡¯t have to be dragged out of her house in the middle of the night like other witnesses. Consoling herself with words a young man with gray hair might say, she reluctantly returned home, only to remember that her fridge had been empty since that morning. She had a habit of drinking a glass of milk before bed. Thus, the blonde, taking off her top hat and yawning, headed downstairs towards the convenience store. ¡°It¡¯s so boring~ Why didn¡¯t those three guys take me with them¡­?¡± Her nose twitched. She seemed to smell something odd. An iron-like scent that shouldn¡¯t be here. What could it be? Following the scent¡¯s source, she found, in the depths of the roadside flowerbed, a black and heavily injured woman. A narrow, long wound crossed her entire body, nearly causing her internal organs to spill out. She didn¡¯t panic or scream but just took the woman¡¯s wrist, feeling a very faint pulse. Lianyi¡¯s power was only mind sensing; even he couldn¡¯t handle this kind of situation. The two idiots lived in Thorn District, and by the time they got there, the body would be cold. The one who could hope to save her now was¡­ She rapidly typed a number and softly said, ¡°Hey, senior? Where are you at?¡­ Just finished a call in Fixed Wing District? That¡¯s great~! I just found someone nearly dead outside my home, the injury is¡­ Uh huh, I¡¯ll start first aid¡­ Remote guidance please¡­ Thanks, senior!¡± Kardesia, smiling, got busy with a mix of concern for the stranger¡¯s safety and pleasure at the thought. Good. She had finally encountered something interesting! Chapter 72 - 72 44 Freedom ?72: Chapter 44 Freedom 72: Chapter 44 Freedom ¡°The banquet must come to an end eventually.¡± After leaving a table full of leftover food and drink, Yan Qi was the first to leave the house. Having drunk two drinks that night, his face bore a slight hint of drunkenness, and his steps were a bit slower than usual. Such a small amount of alcohol wouldn¡¯t cause him to stumble, but when walking alone there was nobody to talk to; whether it was drunken ramblings or serious talk, it was dull without an audience. Perhaps it was the effect of today¡¯s Dragon Disaster, or maybe it was because the night had grown deep, but apart from the tired security guard at the entrance of the residential area, he didn¡¯t see a single pedestrian. He walked a bit further and was drawn to the bright advertisement on the bus stop, so he went to sit on the bench under the sign. Yan Qi surveyed the look of the bus stop and glanced at the contents of the advertisement. The silent electronic advertisements rotated on the screen: the new album of a popular idol, recruiting for a university laboratory, public safety announcements urging caution in the use of superpowers¡­ He snorted in ridicule. ¡°Switching the broth but not the medicine, isn¡¯t it just the same old stuff from outside.¡± At that moment, the quiet was broken by heavy footsteps, as a wide, large figure emerged from the darkness into the light. He instinctively wanted to wipe his forehead with a handkerchief, but as his hand reached into his pocket it came back out. The weather being cool in early February, even a middle-aged man of his bulky build wouldn¡¯t sweat from just a few steps. This person, dressed in a large purple official uniform and wearing a small official hat, was none other than Liu Zhongwu of the Cangshou District. He focused his gaze and, seeing the dark circles under the eyes of the man on the bench, hurriedly walked over with concern, asking, ¡°Mr. Yan, are you injured?¡± ¡°Cut the crap,¡± Yan Qi took out a scroll and tossed it to him, ¡°Here, the Emperor¡¯s letter.¡± Director Liu received the scroll with both hands, bowed, and placed it gently and quickly into a jade box, as if a moment¡¯s delay would cover the object in his hands with dust. After doing all this, Liu Zhongwu let out a sigh of relief. He sat down heavily beside Yan Qi, using his size advantage to squeeze the large man to the other end of the bench, and spoke in a tone completely different from before, ¡°You filthy bastard, got beaten up?¡± Yan Qi laughed and cursed, ¡°With an imperial decree, I¡¯m Mr. Yan, and without it, I¡¯m a filthy bastard? Look at that fat, bureaucratic face of yours!¡± ¡°As officials, we must make a distinction between public and private matters,¡± the middle-aged bureaucrat said unflinchingly, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and offering one to the gangster beside him. Yan Qi waved it off. Mr. Liu put the cigarette into his mouth, lit it, and blew out a puff of white smoke. ¡°Sigh¡­ Mr. Yan, taking decisive action, propping up a failing structure, bringing a bunch of dangerous people over was a necessity. I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t see it. But why did you have to bring Mr. Qin¡¯s granddaughter along¡­¡± The tall man waved his hand dismissively through the smoke. ¡°Young people need to broaden their horizons and gain some experience! If you don¡¯t like it, come and replace her.¡± ¡°I¡¯d love to, but everyone in the Yiji Hall is frozen from top to bottom, who do I find to replace her?¡± Mr. Liu frowned in distress, ¡°One move and it becomes an international political incident. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They¡¯ll say our Yong Guang Empire is secretly causing the Dragon Disaster, then who will I reason with?¡± ¡°Are you dumb? Whoever dares to say it, you¡¯ll curse them to death,¡± Yan Qi yawned, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡± ¡°Not great, Shiyu Research Institute is wiped clean, no clues left. Mr. Yan, do you have any insight?¡± Sky Extreme sneered, ¡°If it were the Seven Luminaries Divine Sect, there might still be a play. That bunch of idiots think they can figure out a unity skill?¡± ¡°Morton owes you guys a favor, which made things a lot easier, but even so we haven¡¯t figured out how the glass beads ended up with the dragon lunatics. Zero Island is hard to deal with beyond this point¡­¡± Yan Qi stroked his chin, stating firmly, ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with Zero Island.¡± ¡°No evidence. It¡¯s reasonable for the local Impermanence Law Enforcers, after wiping out the lunatics as zero number, to have escaped.¡± ¡°What damn evidence do you need, let the Emperor apply pressure and send people! With such a big blunder this time, how could they refuse!¡± The tall man slapped the bench while the fat bureaucrat shook his head repeatedly. ¡°Our handling of this has already made a lot of people talk. Just wait, until the right opportunity comes.¡± Liu Zhongwu exhaled his last puff of smoke and extinguished the cigarette, saying, ¡°We still have half the crystal left in the Abinos Mountains¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s already arranged with the Emperor, keep it for your research work or as a bargaining chip.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Liu Zhongwu had nothing more to say and stared blankly into the dark night sky. That was the direction where the Colored Glaze Dragon had appeared. After holding back for a while, he said in a tone of defeat, ¡°When will this end?¡± Contrasting sharply with the chubby man beside him, the tall man at this moment had a face beaming with excitement. ¡°From Supibia until now, for three whole years, not a single Lingyu Dragon Disaster has occurred.¡± The portly middle-aged man suddenly turned, the flesh on his face tremoring, ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Real or fake, it¡¯s just a guess! Three years isn¡¯t enough to tell anything.¡± Yan Qi pinched his chin, chuckling heartily, ¡°But I, Yan Qi, have never guessed wrong.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t talk about other things, but I believe that¡­¡± Liu Zhongwu pushed himself up from his seat, and all at once, he seemed energetic and spirited, ¡°Where are you staying tonight?¡± ¡°Damn! I was so busy I forgot about that. Book me the highest-class hotel!¡± ¡°Oh, you want a high-class hotel. I¡¯ve got a little villa, just go straight there. It¡¯s near the Dragon Head with nice scenery, has a chef, a garden, the Four Treasures of the Study, all you need after your adventures¡­¡± The last bus of the night pulled up to the stop, and the driver rubbed his eyes. He thought he had seen the silhouettes of a tall man and a stout man sitting on the bench, but when he got closer, there was nothing there on the platform. Perhaps he had seen a ghost, or maybe he was hallucinating from the shock of tonight¡¯s Dragon Disaster. Such a major event and they won¡¯t let him off work, what a crappy place. Chapter 73 - 73 44 Freedom_2 ?73: Chapter 44 Freedom_2 73: Chapter 44 Freedom_2 The bus driver muttered to himself, sticking to the usual routine, pretending he hadn¡¯t seen anything and there would be no issues. The bus closed its doors and drove away. No one boarded, and there was nobody waiting on the bench at the station. At 11:40 p.m., at Mo Yuankai¡¯s residence. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a hasty dinner, everyone left one by one. Mo Yuankai declined the guests¡¯ offers to help, leaving only the silver-haired young man to help him clear the table. Superpowers were particularly convenient at this moment, allowing them to clean up without lifting a hand. The two sat side by side on the sofa. Mo Yuankai pressed the remote, and a strange painting appeared on the large screen in the living room. Gongsun Ce recognized what it was. Every time he had a nightmare, he would see that embodiment of despair etched deep in his memory. The one-eyed beast perched atop the seven clock towers, the Netherworld Dragon that had arrived three years earlier. He heard his brother say, ¡°It¡¯s all over, Ah Ce.¡± The Netherworld Dragon had died three years ago. The Colored Glaze Dragon, which hadn¡¯t been dealt with at that time, had also been slain today. The tragedy known as the collapse of the kingdom, an event that had impacted their lives¡­ was finally concluded by the persons involved just over an hour ago. ¡°I don¡¯t feel much of anything,¡± Gongsun Ce slowly said, ¡°I always feel like I¡¯m dreaming. Half a day¡­ a series of battles¡­ no time to feel tired¡­ just following the situation and killing it.¡± The Black Sword had also been sealed again by Yan Qi. He shouldn¡¯t have nightmares anymore. The silver-haired young man blinked, unconsciously repeating, ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± ¡°You did well, the incident from three years ago is resolved,¡± Mo Yuankai patted his little brother¡¯s shoulder, ¡°but not everything is over. Ah Ce, what have we always acted for from the beginning?¡± ¡°For the peace and tranquility of this city¡­¡± He saw Mo Yuankai give him a thumbs up, just like before. The silver-haired youth smiled, and together with his friend said, ¡°And for the day when all superpower users can leave this prison!¡± ¡°One day, we will succeed!¡± Mo Yuankai encouraged. ¡°Yes, although we often stop others from leaving, making me embarrassed to say this in front of others.¡± ¡°What can you do? The pursuit of personal freedom can¡¯t override the public interest. We¡¯re partners in justice, not villains.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the partner in justice,¡± Gongsun Ce pointed at the information trafficker and then at himself, ¡°I¡¯m the student who assists the partner in justice.¡± ¡°Please, 230 pounds of justice partner.¡± ¡°You¡¯re now like a seal in an aquarium, proudly sticking your belly out every day to show off ¡®Look how fat I¡¯ve gotten.''¡± ¡°Have some decency, glasses guy,¡± the information trafficker slumped on the sofa, ¡°do you want me to take you home?¡± ¡°Thanks, I can go back by myself.¡± After saying goodbye to his old friend, Gongsun Ce left his house. He walked on the deserted streets, thinking about the past, the earlier conversation, the freedom they desired, and from there to the freedom Shiyu Ling desired. Who doesn¡¯t want freedom? Probably only Yan Qi didn¡¯t want it, that man would only mockingly say, everyone is bound by life, living is nothing but walking with tied hands and feet. But the young man didn¡¯t think this way, like his peers, he also yearned for an unbound life¡­ therefore, to a certain extent, he could understand that woman¡¯s perspective. At the moment when she merged with the giant dragon, at the moment when she received immense power, did Shiyu Ling really obtain the freedom she wanted? Or was it¡­ He thought of the birds in the sky, thought of her laughing on the dove¡¯s back. Perhaps humans crave the sky because they envy the freedom of the birds. But the birds envied by those on the ground might also be longing for the power of hands and feet, even with wings to soar through the air, they are still bound by invisible gravity¡­ It¡¯s the same for everyone. Whether humans or birds, all are discontent, all are not free. He had to agree with Yan Qi¡¯s words, but this also made him angry with himself. ¡°Thinking too much!¡± Gongsun Ce muttered to himself. How could he know the troubles of birds? How could he know Shiyu Ling¡¯s thoughts? Those were void imaginings, speculations that couldn¡¯t affect reality, just like the many words he usually uttered without substance, merely satisfying himself. Even so, he couldn¡¯t control his thoughts. If¡­ At this moment, the message from his sight brought him back from his reverie. In reality, there were no doves, no hunters, just a girl in a green top and yellow skirt looking at her phone under the streetlight. Qin Qianbai put away her phone and waved at him: ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already got a poker face, no need to be stingy with words.¡± ¡°That was an unexpected exclamation, I was pretending to have a casual encounter.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. In this city, in this world, no encounter would be as bland as yours.¡± Miss Qin walked backward beside him. It was as if she had eyes on her back, skillfully avoiding all obstacles in her way. A bit further ahead¡ªfor her, a bit further back¡ªwas a flowerbed by the road. How should she deal with that? He thought she would surely avoid it, but instead, she lightly jumped up, standing on the edge of the flowerbed like walking on a balance beam. Really impressive. She¡¯d be popular with the kids in the park, this fellow. Gongsun Ce momentarily didn¡¯t know what to say to her. He was really exhausted, and explaining today¡¯s events in detail would be a mental torture. Besides, even just being friends, it would probably be rude to keep talking about other women during a conversation with a girl. Chapter 74 - 74 44 Freedom_3 ?74: Chapter 44 Freedom_3 74: Chapter 44 Freedom_3 He remembered he hadn¡¯t yet asked the reason she was involved in this matter. Without asking, he knew it was Yan Qi who brought her here, but when had she gotten to know that man? And he didn¡¯t even know how Shiyu Lianyi had come to know Yan Qi. These were all personal privacies that weren¡¯t easy to ask about. The moment such a thought flashed through his mind, the advice of his older brother rang in his head. ¡ª ¡°What¡¯s this about personal matters¡­ Don¡¯t you understand what friendship is, Ah Ce? It¡¯s about a bond formed through shared life-and-death experiences!¡± Should he change his approach? But then, he couldn¡¯t maintain his one-sided stance¡­ because knowing more about others also meant revealing more about himself. From this perspective, what should he say? Gongsun Ce cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem. The nightmare that I used to have, it¡¯s not actually like the one I told you about this afternoon.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After the opening remark, finding the next sentence to say was very difficult. Talking about one¡¯s own matters always came with an inexplicable sense of shame. ¡°The true content of that nightmare¡­ do you want to hear it?¡± ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not very interested.¡± The gray-haired youth wordlessly covered his face. This was it, the thing he feared the most! The things that one sees as important, to others, might just be trifling¡ªand after preparing oneself mentally to talk about it, to find the person across showing an expression of ¡°oh, is that it¡­¡± brought a sense of defeat that was ten times worse than losing a battle! Not only the atmosphere dies, but also the subtle self-esteem of the person involved; really, in such cases, it might be better to tell a lie that no one would believe, just to keep the mood light!! He needed to say something, anything, to lighten the mood¡­ It was then that he heard the girl say. ¡°If it¡¯s a nightmare, then it must contain elements that made you unhappy. If it causes Ah Ce discomfort to reminisce, then it¡¯s better not to talk about it.¡± He watched his friend jump off the flower bed, turn around, and walk beside him, shoulder to shoulder. Incredibly, his mood calmed down. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad¡­¡± He began to recount his dream. When he brought up the past, a grey haze of illusion appeared in his eyes. A silent, gray-white mist emerged, swirling at his side as if trying to drag him back to the past. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the events of that day were over. Today, he finally put an end to the tragedy that happened three years ago. At this moment, the fear in his heart seemed to fade away along with the real-world resolution. Stepping through the mist, he continued to move forward in reality. The grey-white fog was still there at first, but as he delved deeper into his narrative, it gradually thinned and finally vanished completely from his sight without a trace. ¡°¡­That¡¯s when I woke up.¡± He had finished recounting his dream. Headless and tailless, it was just a fragment of that event. The Knight charged towards the Evil Dragon, and what happened after wasn¡¯t in the dream. What would he think if he were the one listening? Incomprehensible, inexplicably bizarre, where were the cause and the consequences, what happened next¡­ Gongsun Ce couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly; anyone would think that way, wouldn¡¯t they? With this in mind, no matter what the other person asked, he should explain properly. Even the matter about the sword, he prepared himself to talk about it in his mind. The Superpower User looked at his friend. Qin Qianbai looked into his eyes and asked, ¡°That Knight lady, is she Ah Ce¡¯s girlfriend?¡± ¡°What are you thinking about¡ª?!¡± Gongsun Ce was at a loss. Why would the first thought after hearing this be to ask that question?! It¡¯s not about ruining the mood anymore¡ªyour train of thought really seems to have deviated to some degree, Miss! The gray-haired youth sighed heavily, covering his face, ¡°How could I possibly deserve such attention, she has a boyfriend! Her boyfriend is a great guy, and the way they shine when they¡¯re together nearly blinds me. I¡¯m just waiting for them to announce their wedding so I can rush to officiate.¡± ¡°It sounds like the lament of a defeated third wheel in a love triangle.¡± He reached out and knocked on his friend¡¯s head. ¡°Using an example you would understand, my relationship with those two is the same as my current relationship with Kardesia and Mr. Shiyu.¡± Miss Qin, holding her head, said, ¡°I completely understand.¡± He kind of believed that girls tend to be more love-brained. Qin Qianbai continued to walk with him, just like they had on their way home that afternoon. Neither took a detour, because they lived in the same apartment building¡ªshe resided in 7-6, right next door to the Superpower User. There wasn¡¯t any special reason they often acted together, they just lived close by. The night was deep now, the last bus had gone, and at this hour, the pigeon station was probably closed too¡­ They might have to walk all the way back. But then again, they were both so tired today¡­ The Superpower User, using his Telekinesis, caused both of their bodies to float into the air. They rose above the roadside trees, over the towering buildings, until they reached the unobstructed night sky. Qin Qianbai pressed down her skirt, tilted her head to look at him, ¡°Does Ah Ce have enough strength?¡± ¡°To be honest, no, I feel like I¡¯m going to fall in less than a minute. We¡¯ll fly for as long as we can.¡± A minute might have been generous. 45 seconds, no, perhaps in another 30 seconds they would fall. Still, it was faster than walking. They knew that any moment now, they would descend. Even so, they still wished to fly in the starless night. Feeling the wind blow past them, gazing at the sky which seemed closer than from the ground. Before the inescapable bonds took hold¡­ To enjoy the fleeting freedom that would soon leave. £¨End of Volume One£© Chapter 75 - 75 1 Volume Reflection and Summary ?75: 1 Volume Reflection and Summary 75: 1 Volume Reflection and Summary This update ends here, and the next one will be in two days¡­ oh, there¡¯s no dice this time. The first thing that popped into my head when I thought about writing a summary was this phrase; I guess old habits die hard. No need for more idle talk, let¡¯s get into the summary of the first volume¡ªalthough this is basically just my idle talk section, using the phrase ¡°no more idle talk¡± sounds kind of odd. I¡¯m not used to not having Teacher Xu¡¯s pictures for section breaks, so I¡¯ll use the dot symbol instead. ¡¤ First comes the routine reflection section. It was my first time writing an original story, and there were really a lot of areas I needed to reflect on. I tried my best to make each character distinct, but I focused too much on designing their powers and neglected their personal traits, I must admit my inexperience¡­ especially with Xu, who I initially wanted to be a stoic and stern man but ended up like a dedicated game master in role-playing groups because his powers needed explaining, really¡­ sorry to put you through that. Creating original powers was indeed challenging, and the powers of almost everyone had prototypes to some extent. What most discouraged me was Miss Shiyu; I had a great idea suited to her, finished the detailed setup of Water Mirror Immortal Shadow excitedly, only to realize when I started writing¡ªit¡¯s kind of similar to the Light of Judgment (from Magical Index, a power from Left Side). Oh, I seriously wanted to dig a hole and bury myself. But with things as they were, I couldn¡¯t change the script at that point, so I just had to grit my teeth and continue writing (sadly). ¡¤ Being used to the feeling of writing posts in the past led to having too many dialogues, and my lack of skill made the characters¡¯ speech somewhat homogenized; it was a disaster when many characters were involved in the conversation. I will work on improving this to ensure the next villain doesn¡¯t end up a chatterbox like Xu. Controlling the pace of the narrative was also a tough issue. Introducing the worldview and setting (casual conversations when Alice and Ah Ce first met) unexpectedly took up three chapters, oh my gosh¡­ The number of participants in the beast battle made Mr. Takizawa, who was already a minor character, appear even more so¡­ After the beast battle, the deduction and underground chapters took up quite a few sections, even longer than the initial setting and world explanation¡­ Looking back makes me want to hide my face and sigh deeply. I can¡¯t grasp the balance between detail and brevity, always wanting to explain every point in a detailed discourse, intent on clarifying everything related, which is really a bad habit of mine. Additionally, the story¡¯s timeline being too packed was also a problem. I wanted to add more everyday scenes of Alice¡¯s snarky dates, which would have made the heartfelt reveal at the end even more impactful. Unfortunately, there was only half a day¡¯s time; they rushed around half the city and could only sneak in a few words during their busy moments, a real pity. I¡¯ll have to extend the timeframe of the story a bit in the next volume. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even looking at the prologue now, it seems pretty nonsensical, right? I feel the same. But I really wanted to write it; I wanted to use that scene as the start of this story, so I still went ahead and included it.) There are many more points to reflect upon, but if I continue listing them one by one, it will turn into a grand reflection meeting. So for now, let¡¯s turn this page and talk about the story in this volume. ¡¤ The title of the first volume is ¡°Superpower Users and Impermanence Law Enforcers,¡± which is mainly about the story of the Impermanence Skill. The Impermanence Law Enforcers appearing in this volume are mostly middle-level Divine Communication practitioners, with a few high-level manifestations and one representing the ceiling¡ªCreation Realm. How do you all feel about it? The Impermanence Skill is fundamentally related to one¡¯s inner self. By seeing their abilities, you can somewhat understand what kind of person he or she is. I guess that¡¯s the basic tone of the story. Many characters introduced in the first volume were deliberately given ¡°dual identities.¡± Mr. Shiyu shifted from a charming gentleman to a friend covered in scars, Yuankai from a minor chubby character to a big brother, Yan Qi from a nobody masked man to a strong man, and Qin Qianbai transformed from a simpleton into¡­ a masked simpleton (laughs). The most deliberate one, of course, was Miss Alice, who shifted from a helpful Hunter to a fugitive prey, from a good woman to a bad woman¡ªthe first Hunter wanted Ah Ce¡¯s heart, and so did the second one. Naturally, the leading lady of this volume is Miss Shiyu Ling, who also doubles as the final boss. What would happen if a character who had always been nice to the protagonist suddenly betrayed him and turned into a major villain¡­ That¡¯s the thought process that designed her character. Malice churned in her heart, yet the kindred conversations were not false; she only loved herself but quite enjoyed the random encounters with the chatty grey-haired man. Among the words spoken by Alice, how much is true and how much is false¡­ Ah Ce must have been pondering this in the end. As for the truth, only she knows. Initially, I really, really, really wanted Miss Shiyu to decisively bow out at the end of this volume. Hehe, time to kill off a character! I always had to pull my punches in previous writings, but there¡¯s no reason not to ¡°pack a lunchbox¡± this time, and the first one¡¯s you, Shiyu Ling!! ¡ªIn reality, as soon as I started writing, I thought, ¡°Oh, no, this is a bit¡­ I mean, she may be rotten but she¡¯s kind of nice too, so maybe nevermind.¡± Knowing my own soft nature, I had prepared two outlines with slight differences¡ªone for killing off Miss Ling and one for sparing her. When I wrote about a dozen chapters, the former outline was thrown in the trash. Consequently Miss Ling survived, thanks to Ah Ce¡¯s mercy and her brother¡¯s life-saving sacrifice. After that, there shouldn¡¯t be a reason to cause any more trouble¡­ probably. In reality, while writing, I realized it¡¯s impossible to delve deeply into every character, so the stories of Miss Qin, Mr. Shiyu, and others will be told later. Since she was the main female character of this volume, the stage was given to Alice. ¡¤ The first volume is positioned as an introduction to the most important content of this world, so I chose a sudden incident. And in the following Second Volume¡­ After a whole volume with Impermanence Law Enforcers, it¡¯s time to let the Superpower Users have some fun. I think it¡¯s also time for Ah Ce to catch his breath, enjoy some of the daily life in the sky city, bring in some superpower campus comedy, and show a day-to-day side of this city. Maybe throw in a bit of anime culture. A romantic plot? Ah, no rush, no rush. ¡¤ Regarding word count, I asked in the comment section before, and some friends said the current chapter length is fine while others felt a bit shorter might be better. I plan to compromise: the relatively boring transitions will try to be wrapped within 2k words per chapter, and the rest will remain at the current level. If you have any better suggestions, feel free to mention them in the comments or chapter reviews, whether about the pace of the words or anything else; after all, I do have many shortcomings and need to keep improving by listening to advice. And just like when I used to post, seeing comments makes me really happy. By the way, I won¡¯t use the female character deceit trick for the second time; after all, repeating it would just be boring. ¡¤ Finally, thank you very much for your comments, bookmarks, recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, and contributions! I really wanted to write a thank-you note at the end of the chapters when I received them, but it might affect the reading experience, so here, I extend my gratitude altogether. Thank you very much for your support! The first volume is complete. I need to take some time to revise the outline for the next volume, so the publication will temporarily halt for the next two days, and the serial will resume on Wednesday. Some character settings introduced in this volume will be posted separately in the comment section like before, coming out tomorrow. So, this update ends here. The next update will be in two days, and the content will be the Second Volume, the unearthly non-daily life. Chapter 76 - 76 1 Escape?Fright?Superpower ?76: Chapter 1 Escape?Fright?Superpower 76: Chapter 1 Escape?Fright?Superpower Floating City, Fixed Wing District, Sky Clear International Airport. ¡°Put on wax-coated wings? say goodbye to the past?¡± ¡°Flying towards the sun and the moon? world above the clear skies?¡± The new song had barely started when the surroundings suddenly became noisy. A reluctant tourist took off their headphones and, with others disembarking from the plane, began to examine the building they were in. This elliptical, semi-transparent building constructed under the lower part of the giant dragon¡¯s wing was the first place where most outsiders interacted with Floating City. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The tourists looked around with curiosity, eager to see what the superpowered teenagers from the legends looked like, while a minority, who were not visiting by choice but due to work or family reasons, often looked worried, muttering curses about dragons in various languages under their breath. Regardless of what the tourists were thinking, what they were about to see would largely contradict their expectations. The airport looked similar to others, no dragon scale floors engraved with strange patterns, no fashion-forward youngsters running up the walls, just repeated checks for suppressants, security measures that were at least five or six times stricter than elsewhere, and the large banners held by human rights activists along with their angry shouts. ¡°5.7 million families torn apart because of you! Save the children!¡± ¡°They¡¯ve already lost their freedom; they can¡¯t lose their lives too!¡± ¡°The body of the giant dragon has brought a new Dragon Disaster! Who can guarantee the safety of our children?!¡± Airport staff, all with smiles on their faces, ignored them¡ªthose who couldn¡¯t handle it had resigned long ago¡ªand kindly reminded the tourists to be mindful of their own safety as they led them away from the slogans and banners. Tourists who felt the protestors¡¯ cause had nothing to do with them felt a twinge of sympathy but also a bit annoyed by the noise. Only a few tourists might think about the group of people who might be somewhat related to the activists¡¯ outcry¡­ for instance, the Superpower Users¡­ how did they view this situation? ¡¤ ¡°This is so annoying!¡± In the departure hall, a floor separated from the tourists, a young man in a baseball cap kicked the toilet fiercely. ¡°All talk and no action, why don¡¯t I ever see you in the city! You are all just actors paid to be here!!¡± From the adjacent cleaning room came a voice: ¡°Actually, there are also a very small number of student¡¯s parents¡­ There are always people who refuse to accept reality, Milais.¡± As if still not relieved of his anger, Milais kicked the toilet a couple more times before knocking on the stall next door, ¡°Right, just like us now! What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m working on it! I¡¯m working on it! Okay, this little area of surveillance is temporarily clear, you can come out now, and everyone else can come in.¡± Three more kids of various appearances entered the restroom and joined the two who had come out from the stalls. They were all about the age of early middle school students, some with rampant acne on their faces, skin colors ranging from light to dark, and each with a different hair color, standing together like a squad that sneaked out of some international summer camp. As the leader of this small group, Milais confirmed the details with them one by one: ¡°Li Zi, fake identity. Liang Ya, clothing. Anton, suppressant check. Report your status.¡± ¡°A Tawawaku family visiting relatives, just five heads in total.¡±¡±The clothes can be ready in three seconds.¡±¡±Visual and audio effects are all set; I hope they work.¡± The young man in the baseball cap rubbed his face fiercely: ¡°Remember, if something goes wrong, change the plan immediately and hijack the plane we scoped out earlier. I don¡¯t want to be locked up here for life! We have to succeed!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± His companions responded in a low chorus, seeing unmistakable tension in each other¡¯s eyes. They had to deceive airport security, posing as tourists visiting relatives¡­ Who knew how viable the plan was? But preparations could never be completely finished; they had to make an attempt. No one could guarantee they¡¯d get such detailed intelligence a second time, so they pinned all their hopes on this one chance. They pinned all their hopes on this one chance! The five kids chanted in their hearts. Li Zi moved the ¡°Cleaning in Progress¡± sign from the door and stepped out of the restroom first. According to the original plan, they were to knock out the tourist family and hide them in the cleaning room. Their companion had just left when the youth in the baseball cap started to feel uneasy. Damn it, he hadn¡¯t been in a fight since he arrived in this city. But everything would be fine; it could all be resolved with superpowers without causing any harm. Milais tried to convince himself to ease his conscience. What else could be done now? Was it possible to give up at this point? ¡°I¡­ I still feel a bit¡­ involving innocent people¡­¡± Someone muttered softly, and Milais almost joined in. Damn it! Everything was planned out so well; why was it that conscience and confidence started to waver when it came to the actual execution? He nervously glanced at his watch, realizing it had been a minute since his companion left. ¡°¡­¡± The youth in the baseball cap swallowed hard. Okay, something had definitely gone wrong. No need to worry about the innocent tourists now; it was time to worry about themselves. ¡°Li Zi hasn¡¯t returned; go straight to hijack the plane!¡± Everyone was shocked, none expected such a hiccup right at the start, and for a moment, no one dared to move. It wasn¡¯t until the youth in the baseball cap mustered the courage to rush out that the remaining three shouted and followed: ¡°Ahh ahh ahh! Ahhh ahhh ahhh!!!¡± One after another, they ran out of the restroom and then one by one, they stopped. Not because unknown fear had weakened their legs, but because some indescribable force gripped their bodies. Chapter 77 - 77 1 Escape è·¯ Shock è·¯ Superpower_2 ?77: Chapter 1 Escape ¡¤ Shock ¡¤ Superpower_2 77: Chapter 1 Escape ¡¤ Shock ¡¤ Superpower_2 The feeling was truly¡­ eerily bizarre and terrifying, causing them to be immensely frightened, almost to the point of screaming. They couldn¡¯t lift their arms or move their legs, their bodies firmly rooted in place, as though they were being ¡°pressed¡± down by some invisible force. Milais finally thought of an apt comparison, which was like waking up in the middle of the night, knowing that one is awake but only able to lie in bed, staring wide-eyed and panting, completely unable to move. He recalled a classmate from the Empire referring to it as ¡°sleep paralysis.¡± It was indeed malevolent, as if a ghost or spirit was pressing down on one¡¯s body, mimicking his current experience. Li Zi, who had gone out earlier, was standing just a few steps away from him, his upper and lower teeth constantly shivering, a look of distress on his usually optimistic face that Milais had never seen before. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Good morning, everyone. It seems everyone has arrived; what is this all about?¡± Then, Milais heard a voice. The voice came from in front of Li Zi, where a person was standing facing them. ¡°Based on your reactions just now, I assume you are newcomers who have just arrived in the past few years? It seems you¡¯ve been here for about 2 years, right in the most anxious period. Judging by your age, all of you are middle school students, good students who normally obey the rules at school, with practically no experience in Superpower battles, am I right?¡± A sense of fear instantly clutched at the youths¡¯ hearts. How did he know? Was it a Mind System ability, or had they encountered someone capable of hacking into databases? There was no reason for their data to be preliminarily accessed! ¡°How should I put it¡­,¡± the person continued, ¡°It¡¯s neither mind-reading abilities nor the hacker master you might be imagining. This is something that can be understood just by observing reactions. Not to mention your dreadful appearance, which looks worse than a food order arriving three days late, I merely immobilized your bodies and didn¡¯t issue a command prohibiting attack like some narcissistic woman might. Yet, none of you have attempted to counterattack so far, which says a lot.¡± The man spoke on; his speaking rate was slightly faster than usual, his tone even, yet it carried an undeniable oppressive force. ¡°I personally don¡¯t believe my appearance is frightening enough to elicit such expressions from you. Such a strong reaction likely means you were already in an unprecedentedly tense state. Understandable, given that this location is normally off-limits to Superpower Users. Summing up the situation, you are a group of good students who recently arrived without much battle experience, daringly infiltrated the airport, and I guess the most probable reason is¡ª¡± ¡°Ah! Electric shock, Mom!¡± Overwhelmed by excessive stress, Milais couldn¡¯t control himself any longer. He yelled out, releasing a small bolt of lightning, a Superpower that the cap-wearing youth took pride in, capable of knocking someone unconscious upon contact¡ª Snap. But all they heard was a faint noise, as the small lightning bolt dissipated mid-air, as if it had struck an invisible, solid wall. Cold sweat broke out on the cap-wearing youth¡¯s back. He now understood why Li Zi was so scared. Their most reliable strength had mysteriously failed; anyone would be frightened by that! He searched his brain for knowledge that could explain this phenomenon. Suddenly, Milais recalled the advice a friendly senior had shared with him not long after he had arrived in the Sky City. ¡°Listen, Milais. It¡¯s good that you remember the rules taught by the teachers. Now there are some important things, things the teachers won¡¯t teach you. It¡¯s mostly unnecessary information, but believe me, it¡¯s still good to know. In this city, there are some people you should never provoke. They are Superpower Users, like you, but different. Their abilities aren¡¯t mere tricks like those you know; their power is far beyond your imagination. Their appearance¡ªmost of them, at least¡ªis human, just like you. But never treat them as human beings. Think of typhoons, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, or any other non-human fear you know. I have a good example, the Dragon Disaster. Do you have an image in mind? Good, remember that they are entities of that scale of terror. I don¡¯t know if they can fight with Dragon Battle, but they can certainly crush you as easily as a giant dragon. I will tell you their distinguishing features and the manifestations of their abilities, but before that, you must remember one thing. Never provoke them. Never.¡± ¡°You all plan to sneak onto a passenger plane and escape from the Sky City. And this plan was made without the aid of a third party, who is not present here, correct?¡± The person continued narrating calmly, not the slightest bit annoyed by the earlier attack. Their plan had been exposed before it even began, and without saying a word, the man had guessed about the helper¡¯s involvement. Milais began paying attention to the other person¡¯s appearance and reviewing the pieces of information he had previously heard¡­ ¡°¡­when you encounter him, you¡¯ll find yourself unable to do anything. Your little tricks will be utterly useless in his presence. They will malfunction, fail, and you will be unable to move a muscle, as if a curse has bound your body. It¡¯s like an invisible demon is roaming before you, crushing all your efforts with its demonic claws. Even if you keep your mouth shut and say nothing, he will disclose your purpose, your background, what you plan to do, and what you have prepared for. It¡¯s as if an invisible demon has penetrated your heart, extracting every secret you wish to conceal with its demonic claws.¡± Chapter 78 - 78 1 Escapeè·¯Scareè·¯Superpower_3 ?78: Chapter 1 Escape¡¤Scare¡¤Superpower_3 78: Chapter 1 Escape¡¤Scare¡¤Superpower_3 Throughout the process, he just stood there, looking at you blandly. Believe me, Milais, it¡¯s terrifying. You¡¯d never want to experience that feeling of powerlessness. Fortunately, he¡¯s usually very friendly to people. Being very friendly means he won¡¯t attack you on his own. If you run into trouble, he might even come over and help. But if, just if, I hope you never find yourself in this situation. If you happen to anger him, you¡¯d better abandon any inappropriate thoughts immediately and sincerely apologize to him. He will spare you if you haven¡¯t gone too far, but that doesn¡¯t mean you won¡¯t be severely injured and hospitalized. This also doesn¡¯t mean that you won¡¯t be beaten to a pulpy mess so that you might still wake up at night crying out occasionally after you¡¯ve recovered. This one, his features are quite distinctive. Grey hair, a young man wearing glasses, chattering away when talking to others, and occasionally talking to himself when alone. He hates rude behaviors, despises unwarranted violence, and loathes insulting language. He will give you his name, but we generally just call him¡­ By the way, launching a surprise attack without introducing yourself is rude. Your reaction was just like the person who came out a minute ago; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have chosen to restrain you directly. Grey hair, glasses, impolite. His teeth also started chattering. Milais realized who he had encountered. One of the most terrifying people in the city, a devil-like man, he is¡­ he is¡­ ¡°Demon!! It¡¯s the Demon!!!¡± His companions emitted a piercing scream, and Milais burst into tears, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, really sorry!!! Please! Spare us!! We didn¡¯t know, we really didn¡¯t know the Demon was here!!!¡± The grey-haired youth adjusted his glasses, sounding especially distressed, ¡°So why give me such a weird nickname?¡± They heard the Demon say, ¡°My name is Gongsun Ce, and I¡¯m a Superpower User like you.¡± By this age, you should have the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Don¡¯t act harmfully under the instigation of strangers. Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be detained, but expect a scolding from the teachers once you get back to school, and prepare to spend several weekends doing community service¡­ After a usual lecture, Gongsun Ce handed the downcast middle school kids over to the airport staff. Any further investigation is up to the official personnel and has nothing to do with him as a working college student. He walked out of the airport¡¯s main entrance and headed to the nearest bus station. Today was sunny with clear skies. No Impermanence Law Enforcer, no giant dragon worshipers, no Dragon Disaster, and no freaks falling from the sky. It was unknown what would happen next to Shiyu Ling, who had probably barely survived, and the fate of the other giant dragon worshipers was also unknown. But none of it was his concern. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What was relevant to him today were the calls of humanitarians, the newcomers who hadn¡¯t even fought a power battle yet, and children¡¯s yet another failed attempt at a breakout escape before even starting. All in all, these were familiar things. Similar events occurred every week every month, known vulgarly as ¡°the big jailbreak,¡± an adventure worth betting everything on once in a lifetime in the eyes of the newcomers, while to the old citizens, it was as pointless as firing a machine gun into the sky¡ªimpressive but pointless. Precisely because it was pointless, it had become a usual part of the cityscape. Gongsun Ce stretched lazily and sighed, ¡°Everyday life is really nice.¡± Chapter 79 - 79 2 Love War and Club Activities ?79: Chapter 2 Love War and Club Activities 79: Chapter 2 Love War and Club Activities ¡°Surprise question! When it comes to school and youth, what do you think of?¡± Near Central United University, at a four-seater by the window of a fast-food restaurant, a blonde girl wearing a top hat excitedly slapped the table and posed a sharp question to her friends! The customers in the restaurant cast curious glances in their direction, awaiting lunch. Qin Qianbai raised her hand. ¡°Qin, go ahead!¡± ¡°Teacher, I think it should be love.¡± Kardesia, the teacher, snorted disdainfully, ¡°Too naive, Little Qian. Love is synonymous with youth; this outdated idea should be thrown in the trash! ¡®Life¡¯s short, fall in love, girls¡¯¡ªit¡¯s not the time for that anymore. Boys who ask you out in the name of enjoying youth are nothing but animals driven by lust in their lower halves, and you must stay far away from them!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Qin Qianbai stared at the seat diagonally opposite. Mr. Shiyu, sitting next to Kardesia, was absorbed in a paperback book as if it contained the mysteries of life, the universe, and everything. She intended to give her friend a slight nudge, ¡°Teacher, aren¡¯t you interested in love?¡± ¡°Not in the slightest! ¡ª¡ª Of course, that¡¯s a lie; everyone has the desire for love, me included.¡± The young man in the suit continued his motions, subtly shifting his gaze and twitching an ear¡ªan movement barely perceptible even to a martial arts expert like her. ¡°But you see, Little Qian, love not only wastes a ton of time, but it also turns people into idiots! Youth is too precious to waste on such things.¡± Mr. Shiyu returned his attention back to his book. She decided to try one last time. ¡°Are you planning to wait until you¡¯re working before trying, Kardesia?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, uh-huh,¡± the blonde girl stood up, proudly proclaiming, ¡°I think 40 is the right age!¡± Mr. Shiyu¡¯s face revealed an incredibly entertaining expression for a split second. That expression really didn¡¯t suit a good-looking guy¡¯s face. ¡°Ah, very impressive.¡± She didn¡¯t know what else to say. Shiyu Lianyi finally closed his book. The young man in the suit, with a smile as usual, curiously asked as if he had only just heard the conversation, ¡°Forty years old refers to¡­?¡± Kardesia waggled her finger, ¡°It refers to the time for love, Lianyi. Think about it, with my intelligence and wisdom, by 40 I¡¯ll certainly have become an influential figure, at the very least a successful global entrepreneur. That¡¯s the material foundation for love~¡± She remembered that Kardesia had just managed to get a passing grade of 60 in her last professional exam, and even that was after she frantically pleaded with the teacher. Becoming an influential figure with such barely-passing intelligence and wisdom must be quite the challenge. ¡°Sounds logical.¡± Zero Island¡¯s young man smiled and agreed, ¡°Then you¡¯ll choose from the excellent individuals you know, planning for the long term, huh?¡± How impressive. Qin Qianbai thought the real visionary was him. Shiyu Lianyi raised the question intending to prepare for a future over twenty years away. At the moment he heard those words, he had already started thinking about his 40s! Such far-sighted strategic vision¡­ treating love as if it were war! This wasn¡¯t a conversation but a clash, an espionage battle taking place over fast-food tables, with brutal calculative tactics! The attacking leader of the Shiyu Army took advantage of a ceasefire to send spies into the city¡­ So, how would the other side, the impenetrable fortress, respond? She looked at a pleased Kardesia. ¡°Of course not!¡± the blonde girl shook her head, ¡°Who wants to date a 40-year-old man? When the time comes, I¡¯ll just drive a luxury car and scout out at the high school entrance~¡± Terrifying. The defending general slapped a handgun on the negotiating table. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The nature of warfare changed from espionage to dire nuclear threat! Noticing that things were going south, Qin Qianbai tried to interject, but Shiyu Alliance Army on the attack hadn¡¯t given up! ¡°So, you mean your ideal targets are young high school teachers?¡± She could almost see a drop of cold sweat slowly sliding down from Mr. Shiyu¡¯s calm face. Although he spoke with his usual tone, it seemed laced with forced effort to her. The general on the attack was still struggling, repeatedly checking the handgun on the table, looking for signs that it was a wooden fake¡­ but it was futile. The enemy general wasn¡¯t one for bluffing; every move she made was serious! Qin Qianbai raised her hand, wanting to urge the attackers to retreat. Stop, Mr. Shiyu! Going any further would trigger a devastating attack; it¡¯s no longer a battle! Then, she heard the blonde girl say, ¡°Are you a fool, Lianyi? Of course, it¡¯s to hit on those young boys who¡¯ve just started high school!¡± Kardesia wiggled in her seat. ¡°How about playing with big sis~ I¡¯ll show you some good stuff~ I¡¯ve got everything you want here~ Then bring them home for this and that~ Ah! The thought of it is so exciting!¡± Boom. It was as if a mushroom cloud exploded above Mr. Shiyu¡¯s head. While the opponent was still pondering where the next attack might come from, she pulled out a machine gun from her bag and used tactical nukes on an enemy still thinking in terms of melee warfare¡ªnot just excessive, but apocalyptic. To fully portray the devastating scene, it was like a Brahma Mage from the Divine Communication Realm wracking his brain to break the enemy¡¯s power, only to find out it was Yan Qi standing across them. There was no chance; not just the castle but the entire battlefield was blown to smithereens. The Shiyu Alliance Army retreated in complete disarray, with even the commander slumping to the ground, powerless. With a thud, Shiyu Lianyi fell onto the table. He placed his hand on his stomach, persevering as he replied, ¡°So¡­ so it is¡­ a very you kind of idea¡­¡± Qin Qianbai made a swift decision. This was no longer tenable. Carrying on would only be unilateral torment, she had to find a way to save Mr. Shiyu. ¡°Speaking of which, is our lunch not ready yet? Ah Ce is so slow.¡± Well done, she silently praised herself. A perfectly timed topic diversion for the current situation! This was strategy! Kardesia reached out and shook the suited young man¡¯s body, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Lianyi? You rarely show such a strong reaction.¡± ¡°Yes, it was the book I just read¡­ I, was deeply moved by the plot¡­¡± How could that be. This woman was not at all distracted by the strategy; she continued to inflict damage! Miss Qin took out a small knife. Her grandfather would approve, at this point, there was no choice but to resort to violence¡ª At that moment, the gray-haired youth who had gone to buy lunch finally arrived with a tray. ¡°Done. Make some room, we¡¯ve got two buckets of fried chicken, two large fries, three beef burgers, and one Biochemical Kangaroo burger¡ªhey, what happened? Was Mr. Shiyu ambushed by a Psychic?!¡± Gongsun Ce looked at the scene before him with surprise. The suited young man being jostled around was undoubtedly sending out a ¡°save me¡± signal to the outside world, with Kardesia seeming to be the culprit inflicting harm. What terrible event had occurred to make Mr. Shiyu end up like this?! He turned his investigative gaze to the expressionless girl who contemplated for a second and then said, ¡°Mr. Shiyu tried to defeat an armed opponent barehanded, and the enemy pulled out a tactical nuke before the battle started.¡± ¡°No, even with that explanation, it just makes the situation even more confusing.¡± ¡°Kardesia mentioned she plans to wait until she¡¯s 40 to date an active high school boy.¡± ¡°Oh my god.¡± The Superpower User expressed his opinion briefly and powerfully with three words. He placed the lunch for four on the table, saying, ¡°You might not believe this, but I made a kid cry at work this morning.¡± His words successfully captured Miss Kardesia¡¯s attention, and she let go of her grip to ask eagerly, ¡°Did you use the White Matter Hammer on them? Or the Invisible Fist? Wait, was it Instant Spiral?¡± The breathless Mr. Shiyu silently mouthed his thanks with his eyes, then leaned weakly against his chair like a peacefully ascending elder. You tried your best, Mr. Shiyu. While mourning his friend in silence, the Superpower User replied, ¡°They were middle schoolers trying to run away from the airport. I deduced their actions and identities and used the least amount of energy to control their movements, trying to show them that I was a reliable adult¡ªand then the kids started screaming ¡®Demon!¡¯ and weeping bitterly as they apologized to me.¡± Kardesia looked unimpressed, ¡°Tch! They start crying over something that minor, the new recruits these days are really lacking in mental strength. Besides, they actually chose the heavily guarded airport as a place to run away from; they should have done their homework before making a move.¡± Indeed, it was obvious that those kids had been used by someone¡­ but to continue on this topic would backfire; he didn¡¯t want his curious friend to get involved in such matters. ¡°You¡¯re too soft on them,¡± the Superpower User shrugged it off nonchalantly, ¡°More importantly, I¡¯m curious about that strange nickname, why exactly do they call Mr. Gongsun ¡®Demon¡¯? Do I have even the slightest resemblance to a devil?¡± Miss Qin, who had already eaten half her burger, said, ¡°It sounds like someone who can shoot fire from their chest.¡± ¡°Where did that Original Super Robot come from?¡± ¡°It sounds like a man who has forsaken everything to fight.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t look like a dark hero with blue skin and red wings, do I?¡± At this point, Mr. Shiyu finally sat upright, returning to his usual demeanor. Having bought enough time for his friend¡¯s revival, Gongsun Ce could now contentedly pick up a piece of fried chicken, ¡°So what were you guys talking about at the beginning?¡± Kardesia, finally remembering the original topic, slammed the table and stood up again, nearly causing the cola in their meals to spill. Mr. Shiyu steadied it for her. ¡°It¡¯s about youth! Oh, youth! Gongsun Ce, what comes to mind when you think of youth and school life?¡± Youth, school life¡ªwith these two keywords, of course, the first thing that would come to mind was ¡°that.¡± In front of his old friend, he didn¡¯t have to pretend to be a university student who was indifferent to subcultures. The gray-haired young man didn¡¯t hesitate to respond, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a school romance comedy filled with all kinds of beautiful girls! In this regard, I highly recommend¡ª¡± The blonde in the top hat gave him a look as if she were looking at trash. ¡°That¡¯s enough, I shouldn¡¯t have asked you. Little Qian, this otaku is beyond saving, take him out.¡± ¡°Mm. Good idea.¡± ¡°Why are you using a dining knife on me? Did I say something inappropriate?!¡± Kardesia ignored the two fools performing the act of catching a sword with bare hands and turned to her friend who was once again engrossed in his book, ¡°Lian~yi~?¡± Shiyu Lianyi closed his book, ¡°Is it club activities?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°Why.¡± The blonde in the top hat pulled her friend closer, ¡°Exactly, Lianyi! Youth and school life, of course, it¡¯s club activities!¡± Gongsun Ce gestured with his eyes to the suited young man, asking internally: (Why?) Mr. Shiyu, with a hint of resignation in his voice, mentally responded. (Kardesia dragged me around to visit all the clubs in the school this morning.) Chapter 80 - 80 3 Lets Start a Club! ?80: Chapter 3 Let¡¯s Start a Club! 80: Chapter 3 Let¡¯s Start a Club! Club activities. Groups formed by multiple students with common interests to conduct hobby-related activities during their spare time. In anime and manga, it¡¯s often a small club with only 5 to 7 members, but in reality, it¡¯s more common to encounter larger organizations with a dozen or more members, often named ¡°XX Club.¡± Gongsun Ce hadn¡¯t joined any clubs in high school; he only heard about their dull aspects from friends¡ªranging from virtually no club activities, most participants being never-seen ghost members, to interactions often centered around a small clique, making it more of a social scene than a hobby pursuit, and so on. Kaldesia, the one who complained about these to him, had joined the Astronomy Club. When their club president in a higher grade rejected her star-gazing event proposal for the fifth time and suggested karaoke and nightclubs as alternative plans, the furious blonde hatted girl concluded her high school club experience by setting a fire that engulfed the entire activity room and the other members¡¯ clothes. To this day, he still believes that even in this city, it was a highly creative way to quit a club. Afterwards, Kaldesia never joined any club again, so Gongsun Ce was somewhat surprised when he heard her mention club activities. The silver-haired young man put down his chicken leg, propped his chin with both hands, and said with a steady tone that wouldn¡¯t offend sensitive people, ¡°Listen to me, Kaldesia Spencer. If you have any dissatisfaction with your current university life, your first choice should be to have a good chat with us¡ªor simply find a suitable time to vent to Mr. Shiyu all afternoon¡ªinstead of ending things with a fiery explosion after your unilateral expectations are dashed once more.¡± The excited blonde hatted girl pointed at the silver-haired man across from her: ¡°It¡¯s not like that, the clubs at Central United University are completely different from those boring little groups we had in high school. I¡¯ve done my homework perfectly this morning! Lianyi!¡± Before she shouted ¡°Lianyi!¡±, an anticipating Mr. Shiyu had already reached into his bag and pulled out a notebook. Every time he witnessed a scene like this, he marveled at how well these two collaborated. How many times had he been summoned, had his name called out, to develop such a predictive conditioned response? From an outsider¡¯s perspective, it¡¯d seem strenuous and excessive, but the party in question seemed to enjoy it. With the table piled with junk food leaving no room for anything else, the Superpower User made the notebook levitate, flicking through the elegant handwritten notes page by page. Miss Qin took a glance, ¡°Isn¡¯t everything written by Mr. Shiyu?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important!¡± the assertive blonde woman swept her hand grandly, ¡°What matters is the content of the notes. Look, the Superpower Sumo Club actually hosts sumo matches and exorcism rituals regularly! Members of the Ancient Culture Club communicate using ancient languages from different countries! The members of the Manga Club have monthly exchanges of original comics, and some have even been accepted for publication in magazines!¡± These university students sounded so competitive. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, while the other two were understandable, what was Superpower Sumo all about? Were the wrestlers pushing each other around while trading superpower punches? To outsiders, wouldn¡¯t that simply look like heavyweight street thugs fighting in loincloths? Achieving the weight of a professional sumo wrestler during the university stage also seemed like quite a feat. Truly determined, those Superpower Sumo wrestlers. ¡°This is the kind of club activity I imagined, not some messy social scene, but a group of like-minded people working hard together for something they are passionate about! Time is precious, my dear friends. We¡¯re already half a year into university life; if we don¡¯t figure something out soon, our youth will slip away!¡± Our youth is slipping away rather quickly. This guy has only been on the track for a few years. Is he really in such a hurry to pass the baton to menopause, the weary teenage runner tired of work? Miss Qin expressed her view, ¡°If we consider youth to end with university graduation, there are still three and a half years.¡± With that, the two peers quickly veered off the original topic and delved into a discussion about ¡°the cut-off point of youth.¡± The Superpower User always thought these matters had no objective standards¡ªMiss Shiyu was approaching her mid-twenties and sometimes still acted very youthfully¡ªso he didn¡¯t listen to a word and instead focused on Mr. Shiyu¡¯s handwritten notes. He noticed that under the description of each club, there was a red cross marked with a pen. The silver-haired youth tried flipping through a few more pages; without exception, there was a red cross under all the notes. ¡°¡­¡± He twitched the corner of his mouth, and Mr. Shiyu glanced over with a distant look. (Don¡¯t tell me she dislikes them all.) (Kaldesia originally said, ¡°They¡¯re all serious, but too boring!¡±) (My comment is ¡®ultimate torture king.¡¯) (Haha¡­) The two female university students concluded their discussion with ¡°the end of sophomore year is the end of youth,¡± to which Qin Qianbai silently nodded. After finishing lunch, he¡¯d have to find a way to clear her of this misinformation. He couldn¡¯t let the young lady turn into the sort of crazed woman full of anxiety about youth seated across from them. The crazed woman declared, ¡°Back to the point! After some investigation, Lianyi and I discovered that the university clubs do meet some of my expectations, but their main activities are a bit, no, they¡¯re too conventional.¡±