《Duplicate Elements》 Chapter 1 On the roof of the world, the thin air made every movement a struggle. Yet, the violent tremors of the earth forced the last heroes to confront the looming threat. Eight hundred meters ahead, a massive chasm was devouring everything on the mountainside. Lava flowed steadily from underground, pooling in the lower areas. The air was filled with swirling vortices of heat. The sky was dense with dark clouds, and the rolling thunder signaled the wrath of the heavens. Countless fiery angels crawled from the chasm, eagerly lapping up the melted snow from the high plateau. After a deep, ominous groan, a colossal figure emerged from the fissure. Its entire body was engulfed in the intense fire of hell, and from its back sprouted twelve pairs of terrifying wings of flame. The demon from the Bible had materialized before them. The ancient, defeated god of war, now leading his devoted champions, cheered as they welcomed their allies. The four lords of fire, with their minions, kept a close watch on the heroes across the way. Xiao Jie grasped her hand tightly and said, "You have to get out of here. Our child is in your belly. Even if I die today, you must ensure our child survives." The appearance of the two major demonic kings from Eastern and Western mythology as allies signaled the fulfillment of the millennia-old calamity. His parents were right: only by studying hard and striving for excellence could one truly make something of themselves. Tang Xiao Jie recalled what his parents had told him growing up. Now, Tang Xiao Jie was a liquor company''s salesman, responsible for supplying spirits to hotels in Anshan, Liaoning Province. His company specialized in selling Snow Beer from Shenyang, as well as a variety of white wines, beers, red wines, and soft drinks. By all accounts, Tang Xiao Jie''s performance should have earned him a promotion to sales manager, but the boss always said, "Xiao Jie, you''re still young and have only been working for two years. Don''t aim too high. You need to gain more experience at the grassroots level to compete in the workplace." However, Tang Xiao Jie didn''t mind too much because he was currently enrolled in an adult education self-study program. After graduating from technical school at age 20, he began working but always had high ambitions. Yet, opportunities for advancement often slipped through his fingers. Nonetheless, Tang Xiao Jie was a clever man. He had enrolled in a distance learning program at the Steel College, studying e-commerce. He had already completed six of the sixteen courses. With both work experience and academic qualifications, he was confident about his future prospects. Now, he sat in the third lecture hall at the Steel College, attending a class on market information. Lately, he couldn''t concentrate and felt restless. He wondered if something was about to happen. When class ended, Tang Xiao Jie walked out of the college, thinking, "I should head home. I''ve been feeling off lately, and tomorrow is a workday." While he was pondering, he saw someone sprinting across the street. "If that speed were used at the Olympics, China would surely win a medal," he thought. "Oh, it''s a woman! And she''s pretty!" The young woman appeared to be in her early twenties, with medium-length hair tied in a ponytail. She had large double-lidded eyes, a high nose, and a perfectly proportioned mouth. Her complexion was pale, and she wore a sporty outfit with light pink sneakers. Her presence exuded youth and beauty. Some people on the street also noticed her, with two boys whispering, "Look, a beauty!" The woman passed by without stopping, heading eastward. Tang Xiao Jie didn''t consider himself a lustful man, but he found himself watching her as she went by. However, he noticed someone else quickly following her¡ªa man, athletic in build. This piqued Tang Xiao Jie''s curiosity, so he followed them, albeit slowly. If they walked too far, he would let it go. After all, it was none of his business. But they turned into an alley by the east wall of the Steel College. That was where the college''s garbage dump was located. It was almost 7 PM, and the area was generally empty. Could the man have ill intentions? This thought prompted Tang Xiao Jie to quicken his pace and follow them. He stopped at the corner, peeking into the alley. The man and woman had stopped by a pile of garbage bags and were facing each other, talking. Tang Xiao Jie''s heart raced as he told himself, "Xiao Jie, if this man tries something bad, you must stand up and stop him. You can''t let him harm such a beautiful girl." Perhaps influenced by his father''s love of storytelling, Tang Xiao Jie enjoyed listening to the tales of Bai Mei Daxia by Shan Tianfang, with the white-browed hero being his childhood idol. He told himself, "Today, I''ll be a hero and teach this scoundrel a lesson." If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. After calming himself, Tang Xiao Jie listened intently to their conversation from behind the wall. The woman said, "You''ve been following me for a while. You seem pretty patient." The man replied in a harsh, dry voice, "You should say it''s you who are patient. You''ve been following us. Wherever we go, you''re there. Isn''t it annoying? If you''re so bold, why not come out and fight? If you don''t dare, stop acting like a savior." The woman responded, "I don''t know why you''re here, but I know you don''t belong here. Your presence must mean something, and I need answers. I think it''s time for you to explain." The man said, "Fine, but I don''t like wasting time with lowlifes like you. If you want to know what we''re doing, show me something valuable. Otherwise, you won''t get a word out of me. Oh, and since we''re face-to-face, you won''t leave here alive. If you want to know any secrets, you''d better get ready to become a plaything for the devils below." As he listened from the corner, Tang Xiao Jie felt a strange force, like a magnetic field, binding him. He couldn''t move or even make a sound. He only heard faint scratching noises and a whisper of light. About two minutes later, as Tang Xiao Jie felt a sudden jolt, the unusual sensation disappeared. "This is strange," he thought. But his curiosity was aroused, and he turned into the alley. What he saw confused him even more. There was a pool of thick, dark purple fluid on the ground, and the young woman was crouching over it, collecting it in a test tube. Tang Xiao Jie was utterly bewildered. "What is this? Where did the man go? What just happened?" The woman murmured, "Curiosity is never good. Today was just an accident." It was unclear if she was talking to Tang Xiao Jie or to herself. Finally regaining his composure, Tang Xiao Jie found himself unable to find the words to respond to what he was witnessing. The woman asked, "What''s your name?" Tang Xiao Jie replied, "Are you talking to me?" He was completely disoriented, his mind filled with questions. The woman said, "Since you''ve seen this, there''s no other choice. But remember, don''t tell anyone about what happened today, or you''ll be in big trouble." Tang Xiao Jie asked, "Who are you? What happened to the man? What are you all doing?" The woman said, "Your curiosity is dangerous. I might have to take measures." She stood and flashed a faint smile at Tang Xiao Jie, but to him, it seemed oddly sinister. He responded with an awkward smile. The woman waved her hand, and a faint golden light shot from her fingertips into Tang Xiao Jie''s forehead. His smile froze, and he couldn''t move or speak. He could only watch the woman with confusion, fear, and anger. Tang Xiao Jie felt helpless. He thought, "I wanted to be a hero, but now I''m stuck here. If I had the skills of Bai Mei Daxia, I''d be competing in martial arts tournaments, not working as a liquor salesman." While Tang Xiao Jie was lost in thought, the woman walked past him and headed towards the street, with Tang Xiao Jie following her like a puppet. His only power was to wonder and imagine what was happening to him. They left the alley, and the woman hailed a taxi, taking Tang Xiao Jie to a place near Qianshan. It was a typical Northeastern courtyard, about 800 square meters. It had a row of north-facing rooms, with six golden peach trees in the courtyard, surrounded by red brick paving. The woman led Tang Xiao Jie into the building, where a large living room had four doors, likely leading to bedrooms. Once inside, the woman waved her hand, and the light flashed, allowing Tang Xiao Jie to move freely again. He sat in one of the chairs, feeling uncertain but no longer scared. He figured he might as well make the best of the situation. He noticed that the chairs were well-crafted, even if not made of rare wood. Each chair had a small table beside it, adding a touch of classic style. The woman sat down beside him and pulled out her phone, making a brief call. After a few words, she hung up and said, "Let''s talk. How about introducing ourselves?" Tang Xiao Jie replied, "Okay. I''m Tang Xiao Jie, 22 years old, unmarried." The woman nodded, "You must be from Steel College. You must be wondering who I am and what I''m doing here. But don''t bother guessing¡ªonce I''m done, you won''t remember anything. We''ll make sure you forget everything that happened today. But don''t worry, we won''t harm you. We''ll just erase your memory of what happened outside the college and here." Chapter 2 After Professor Wang''s detailed explanation, Tang Xiao Jie finally understood the strange events he''d encountered that day. Professor Wang, full name Wang Bin, was a professor at the Chinese Institute of Life Sciences, specializing in human and other species'' biological genes, while also researching Buddhist and Taoist mystical arts. He was a remarkable figure. The beautiful woman who had brought him there was Yue Nan Nan, known as the "Goddess" in the Chinese mystical circles, a figure of immense power. To Tang Xiao Jie, Yue Nan Nan was the equivalent of a legendary hero! The tall man called "Zhu Zi" was actually named Dong Yuan Zhu. He was Professor Wang''s assistant, and despite his rough appearance, he was meticulous and a top graduate from Peking University. If not for his work with Professor Wang, his physical strength might have landed him in China''s National Sports Administration. His power was so immense that it couldn''t even be properly measured. Because his name contained "Zhu" and he was so tall and strong, everyone called him "Zhi Tian Zhu," or simply "Zhu Zi." All these people had exceptional skills; they were like a group of superhumans. For example, Professor Wang never seemed to age, even though Dong Yuan Zhu met him at age 20 and was now 35. Professor Wang always claimed to be 60 years old, but he had been saying that for decades. Despite having their own jobs and lives, they all shared a special mission: to resist invaders. But these "invaders" weren''t foreigners on Earth; they were intelligent beings from other dimensions and worlds. Some of these invaders had abilities that seemed beyond imagination, with varying degrees of power and strangeness, and a few even had the power to destroy entire realms. Most ordinary people would never know about them, but there were references to these beings in ancient texts, the Bible, and the Taoist canon. However, these accounts were often written in metaphorical or allegorical forms, so the average person wouldn''t recognize their significance. Now, they faced an incredibly difficult challenge, one that was almost impossible to overcome. Many who were once like them had given up the mission, while those who remained held onto a slim glimmer of hope. What was this crisis they faced? Professor Wang didn''t say. The professor gazed at Tang Xiao Jie. "Let me take a good look at you, alright? The fact that you could break free from Yue Nan Nan''s binding light is astonishing. You''re just an ordinary person with no training in mystical arts, no background in magic." Tang Xiao Jie thought to himself, "What''s this old guy up to? You''ve been staring at me this whole time, and now you want to take a closer look?" As he wondered what was going on, he noticed a subtle flash in the professor''s eyes¡ªjust a quick flicker, easily missed if you weren''t paying close attention. Suddenly, Tang Xiao Jie felt light, as if his body had lost its weight and become semi-transparent. He was still conscious, but his body felt weightless. What was happening? The number of questions he''d asked himself that night was greater than he''d had in his entire life. This state persisted for about ten minutes before he began to feel normal again. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Professor Wang was delighted. "It''s amazing! He has all the human genetic information, all 24 pairs of chromosomes. You''re a natural-born mission bearer! Ha ha ha! You can''t escape your destiny, young man!" Before Tang Xiao Jie could respond, both Yue Nan Nan and Zhu Zi had their own questions for the professor. Zhu Zi asked, "Professor, are you sure? Is he really the one? Can he do it?" At the same time, Yue Nan Nan said, "Professor, I don''t doubt your insight, but if he''s truly the chosen one, why hasn''t he encountered a mentor by now? He''s over twenty and doesn''t seem to have any training or special talents." Professor Wang glanced at Yue Nan Nan and Zhu Zi, then turned to Tang Xiao Jie. "Now it''s your turn to introduce yourself. What''s your name?" Tang Xiao Jie replied, "Professor Wang, I told you before they arrived. My name is Tang Xiao Jie. I''m 22 years old." "Unmarried," Yue Nan Nan chimed in with a smile. After her comment, everyone turned to look at her, making her blush with embarrassment. "I''ll get you some more water," she said, trying to cover her awkwardness, before leaving with the empty cups to refill them. The professor said, "I''ll call you Xiao Jie. What do you think? Will you join us? If you unleash your potential, I believe we won''t face obstacles anymore. All you need is for the three of us to perform a special ritual on you, and you''ll be able to use your latent abilities, becoming someone extraordinary! You might even become a great hero who saves the world. What do you say?" Professor Wang thought his words would excite any young person, expecting Tang Xiao Jie to be eager to agree. His gaze grew intense, full of anticipation. Tang Xiao Jie seemed to struggle internally, his shoulders trembling slightly. After a long moment of contemplation, he took a deep breath and lifted his head. Even Zhu Zi watched him with anticipation. "I''ve thought about it. It''s late. I need to go home. My dad''s waiting for me to have dinner. If I''m too late, he''ll worry. My phone''s out of battery, and if he can''t reach me, he''ll be even more concerned. Bye." With that, Tang Xiao Jie stood up and headed for the door. "Won''t you even give it a try? Just a quick ritual, and you''ll unlock your potential. Don''t you want to gain superhuman abilities?" Yue Nan Nan had returned to the room, now carrying the tray with the refilled cups. Tang Xiao Jie stopped in his tracks. There was something about her voice, no longer high and mighty, but now gentle and persuasive. It tugged at his emotions. He turned around and nodded at the three people. The three were delighted and began their preparations. Yue Nan Nan went into a side room to retrieve something, while Zhu Zi moved the chairs and tables aside, clearing a ten-square-meter space in the center of the living room. Professor Wang, meanwhile, produced a small flask from somewhere. Tang Xiao Jie stood, unsure of what was about to happen, his destiny unknown. Yue Nan Nan returned with four meditation cushions, arranging them in a pyramid shape on the open space Zhu Zi had cleared. It formed an equilateral triangle, with one cushion in the middle. Chapter 3 Professor Wang motioned for Xiao Jie to sit cross-legged on the cushion in the center, facing due east. Yue Nan Nan and Zhu Zi took their places behind him, on the left and right. Finally, Professor Wang sat in front of Xiao Jie, directly opposite him, and asked, "Young man, are you ready? Make sure to relax your body and focus your mind." Xiao Jie took a deep breath and nodded at the professor. Both Yue Nan Nan and Zhu Zi also indicated they were ready. The professor opened the small flask in his hand and said, "This is a special brew made from wild mountain herbs and genetic medicine. It can strengthen your muscles and bones, nourish your organs, and open your energy channels. Take a sip¡ªit will enhance the effect of our ritual. But don''t drink too much; it''s quite potent." With that, he handed the flask to Xiao Jie with a smile. As Xiao Jie took the flask, a rich, intoxicating aroma filled the room. The scent alone was enough to make one feel invigorated. What would a sip do? With a sense of curiosity, Xiao Jie took a large gulp and swallowed it. The liquor was fragrant, without the strong medicinal taste of other herbal spirits, and had a hint of fruitiness. As a liquor salesman, Xiao Jie thought, "If I could add a label to this and market it, it would sell like hotcakes." But soon, he felt a surge of energy in his abdomen, spreading throughout his body. The professor advised Xiao Jie to close his eyes. When he did, he saw a cluster of energy forming inside him, radiating a clear purple light. The energy suddenly split into twelve streams, flowing through his body along the twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians. At the same time, the professor, Yue Nan Nan, and Zhu Zi began their Tri-Celestial Transference Ritual. They extended their right arms, forming sword-like gestures with their hands, pointing toward Xiao Jie. Golden light shot from their fingers, converging above Xiao Jie''s head, slowly flowing into him like an hourglass. The Tri-Celestial Transference Ritual is not overly complex. It involves three powerful individuals channeling their life force to mimic the heavenly, earthly, and human energies, transferring them into the recipient''s body to unlock their latent potential. The recipient''s innate talent and potential determine how much energy they can absorb and what abilities they can manifest. As the ritual progressed, the lighting in the room flickered erratically. After fifteen minutes, the transference was complete. In that instant, a pillar of light as thick as an ancient pine tree descended from above, piercing through the roof and enveloping Xiao Jie. The entire space seemed to twist and warp. The three people beside him were taken aback, a hint of fear in their eyes. This was an unprecedented phenomenon! Xiao Jie, of course, had no idea of the shock he had caused. It was as if someone had moved a sacred mountaintop to another peak in an instant. When the space stabilized and the ritual ended, Xiao Jie opened his eyes and felt the surge of energy in his body. He saw the complex and strange looks from the three people around him, even from those beside him. This time, it was Xiao Jie who spoke first. "Thank you! Really, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can feel the benefits of this ritual. I can confirm that I now have many superhuman abilities. I can''t even think of anything I can''t do anymore. Ha ha, I''ve hit the jackpot!" Professor Wang was the first to recover from his shock. He smiled at Xiao Jie and said, "Xiao Jie, let''s see what you can do." Yue Nan Nan and Zhu Zi eagerly echoed the sentiment, asking Xiao Jie to demonstrate his abilities. Xiao Jie had no intention of refusing. "Sure, let''s go outside. I feel a bit too energetic, so let''s see what I can do now. Who knows, I might be some kind of monster now." He laughed and led them out into the courtyard. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The three stood in a row under the eaves, while Xiao Jie moved to the center of the courtyard, ready to show off. With a smile, he disappeared in a wave-like blur. When he reappeared, he was floating above the others. He raised his left hand, sending a bolt of lightning from his index finger that struck the top of a peach tree, reducing a few large peaches to ash without harming the branches. The control was incredible! Then Xiao Jie disappeared again. The others heard his voice from inside the house. "I''m in here! Come on in! Ha ha ha!" Xiao Jie laughed, clearly pleased with himself. The three followed his voice back into the house. They saw Xiao Jie sitting on a chair, and their expressions shifted. Xiao Jie hadn''t demonstrated overwhelming power, but he''d used invisibility, flight, lightning manipulation, and teleportation in an instant. This was not something to be taken lightly. Yet, what he said next shocked them even more. "I should really thank you all. I never thought I''d become a superhuman. Now I can do things like X-ray vision and super hearing. I also have at least three powerful offensive abilities that I can''t show you because they''re too dangerous. I know I''m not crazy, and I know I won''t have many chances to show them to you." Xiao Jie was no longer the weak, helpless young man he was when he first encountered Yue Nan Nan''s binding light. He now felt like a superhero standing on high, hands on hips, looking down upon the world. It felt fantastic. Yue Nan Nan suddenly remembered something. "Professor, you said he has twenty-four pairs of chromosomes with complete genetic information. Does that have anything to do with his great potential?" Professor Wang nodded. "Yes, every person is born with twenty-four pairs of chromosomes. Among those twenty-four pairs, twenty-three contain genetic information, and one pair is blank. Some people have partial information in the twenty-fourth pair, but it''s rare. These people are considered ideal for cultivation in China, and in the West, they''re seen as mutants. But Xiao Jie''s twenty-fourth pair is just as complete as the other twenty-three, meaning it''s fully loaded with genetic information. You can understand why he''s so powerful now, right?" Yue Nan Nan inhaled sharply, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead. Zhu Zi wasn''t as surprised, given his work with the professor at the Institute of Life Sciences. The oldest among them, Professor Wang, was the first to regain his composure. The professor asked eagerly, "So, what do you think? Will you join us? We need you¡ªyou''re a natural mission-bearer. To be honest, your abilities could change the course of human destiny. You might be a little inexperienced now, but with some training, you could surpass everyone who came before you. Join us, Xiao Jie! The whole world needs you!" Professor Wang spoke with sincerity, his eyes fixed on Xiao Jie like a wolf eyeing its prey, unwilling to let him go. "Join us, Professor Wang is rarely wrong. You have such great power¡ªit proves he''s right," Zhu Zi chimed in, sharing his thoughts. Yue Nan Nan simply gazed at Xiao Jie with hope, not saying a word. Xiao Jie hesitated once more. As he bowed his head in deep thought, the room fell silent. It was nearly 8 PM. The sky outside was getting dark, and a breeze was picking up. Although there was no sign of disturbance at the gate, five figures had appeared in the courtyard. These five creatures seemed to lack breath, making them difficult to detect. They were watching the room intently. Of the four people in the room, despite Professor Wang''s age and knowledge, the strongest in terms of skill was the renowned Goddess, Yue Nan Nan. While no one else sensed the intruders, Yue Nan Nan did. She whispered to the others, "The companions of the one I killed earlier are here¡ªfive of them, and they''re powerful. We need to be careful." Professor Wang replied, "Really? They''re getting bold. In recent years, they''ve become more active and daring. This level of provocation hasn''t been seen in centuries." Zhu Zi was the first to act, heading toward the door. "If they''re looking for trouble, let''s give them a taste. If they want a fight, they better have the strength to back it up. Otherwise, they''re just being reckless." Professor Wang and Yue Nan Nan followed him out. Only Xiao Jie stood there, puzzled. He thought to himself, "Since class ended today, I''ve been encountering weird things. Maybe this is destiny. I''m a man¡ªI can''t run from fate. If this is my calling, I have to face it. They made me a superhuman¡ªwhat does that mean? They have high expectations for me. Even if their talk seems far-fetched, they did do some pretty amazing things. I should at least go outside and see what''s happening. If I can help, I will. I''ll figure out the rest later." With that, Xiao Jie strode confidently toward the door. Chapter 4 The creatures that Yue Nan Nan called "demons" weren''t part of the human world. According to legend, they were the fallen angels from the Bible who rebelled against God and were forever bound in Hell, turning into demons. Their king was Lucifer, once God''s most beloved archangel. Because of his favored status and immense power, he betrayed God, leading a group of angels to worship him, which provoked God''s wrath. Though Lucifer was forever bound in the deepest pits of Hell, the other demons were not, and they frequently ventured into the human world to tempt humans into committing sins, using the evil energy generated by human wickedness to help free Lucifer from his bondage. These demons had their own title: they called themselves "Firebrand Angels," for the realm they inhabited was filled with searing flames, where they constantly suffered the torment of eternal fire. These events seemed like Western mythology to Xiao Jie, and he had yet to fully grasp their true nature. Yet, here they were, the Firebrand Angels standing before him. The five creatures stood in a line before Xiao Jie and the others. The largest among them stood in the center, surrounded by a faint smoky haze. His complexion was ashen, his features somewhat human, but with two horns protruding from his forehead, making him rather frightening. Flanking him were four smaller creatures, resembling the one Yue Nan Nan had killed earlier. They also had horns, indicating that the fallen creature must have been disguising itself. Xiao Jie mused to himself, "They''d be perfect for a costume party. People would ask them how they got their horns to look so real." Despite the oddity of the situation, Xiao Jie was beginning to accept that he was a mission-bearer. No one wants invaders disrupting their world. Zhu Zi, the first to step forward, said, "You trash dare to come to our doorstep! What do you want?" The largest Firebrand Angel, who appeared to be the leader, looked at Zhu Zi and said, "Looks like we''re about the same size. Heh heh heh, I know what you people are all about. We used to avoid you because our king wouldn''t allow us to engage. But things are different now. Our king has fully awakened, and soon he''ll break his bonds and enter this world. You''re finished. To put it simply, I''m here to offer you a chance to surrender. It''s your only way out. You have two choices: surrender or die. Think about it." The professor replied, "Since we''re being candid, we''ve long been aware of your resurgence. All over the world, people like us have been preparing for this. But I''m curious, you used to operate in the Western world or southern China. What brings you to the Northeast?" The demon leader replied, "If you surrender, you''ll find out. Otherwise, you can keep guessing. But I''ll tell you one thing, I''m Jiaming Laijiaer, a Firebrand Angel of commander rank. I''m giving you a chance. Don''t make me angry; the consequences will be severe." The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. The smaller demon on the leader''s left laughed mockingly, "Our commander is like a god. You should behave. I used to be human, just like you, but now I''m a Firebrand Angel. Ha ha! I''m much stronger than any human. Humans are just lowly creatures. Ha ha ha!" Xiao Jie, a man with a strong sense of justice, was furious. The scene before him felt like a traitorous collaborator convincing villagers to submit to invaders, offering safety in exchange for their grain and daughters. It was infuriating. But as a professional salesman, he knew to keep his cool and observe before acting. The Firebrand commander pointed to the laughing demon and said, "What do you think? He''s your role model. He was human like you. He was from a county near Shenyang and used to work in Tieling as a chef. Now he has a permanent name, ''Quanpeng.'' If you surrender, you can enjoy the same treatment. How about it?" Xiao Jie felt disgusted by Quanpeng''s groveling. But before he could respond, Zhu Zi took action. Without warning, he stepped forward and unleashed a palm strike. This seemed like something Zhu Zi had been holding back, as it was incredibly powerful. Quanpeng, feeling safe because he was close to the commander, was caught off guard. The palm strike hit him square in the face, sending him flying into the courtyard wall. When his body rebounded, a burst of electricity lit up the dark courtyard. After the flash, Quanpeng lay on the ground, clutching his chest, emitting a foul smell like burned flesh. Xiao Jie raised his right hand, pointing his finger and blowing on it like a gunslinger. "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to," he said nonchalantly. Black-purple blood seeped from Quanpeng''s body, and the smell of charred flesh filled the air. It was disgusting, but to the demons, a traitor''s life held little value. Jiaming Laijiaer clapped twice and said, "Not bad! If you join us and become Firebrand Angels, you''ll be as strong as we are, maybe even stronger. What do you say? Join us, and you''ll be treated like royalty." Yue Nan Nan, who had been silent, stepped forward and said, "Enough talk. If you want to fight, I''ll take you on." Her gaze was locked on the Firebrand commander. The professor said, "Nan Nan, the big one is yours. Zhu Zi and I will handle the other three." "And I''ll join in," Xiao Jie added, taking a step forward. "Four against four sounds about right." The professor smiled knowingly, while Zhu Zi seemed excited. The smaller demons readied themselves for battle. It seemed there was no turning back now. Jiaming Laijiaer, however, remained nonchalant, looking at Yue Nan Nan with a smirk. "You''re a pretty little thing. You''d make a nice gift for the Lust Demon Lord. Seems like today will be quite rewarding." Yue Nan Nan''s face turned livid with rage. The Firebrand king, Lucifer, had four demon lords under him: the Ashura Lord, the Soul Lord, the Wrath Lord, and the Lust Lord. The most notorious among them was the Lust Lord, who traveled between dimensions and realms, seeking powerful women to assault and drawing energy from them through dark rituals. The Lust Lord was the only demon without horns, as he often mingled among humans without drawing attention. Any woman he drained would die from the loss of vital energy. The idea of being offered to the Lust Lord infuriated Yue Nan Nan. Chapter 5 In the eerie silence, the battle began. Zhu Zi and the professor engaged the three lesser demons in a flurry of punches, kicks, and magical attacks. The sounds of their combat reminded Xiao Jie that he needed to join the fray, but he felt confused. Though he had newfound strength, he wasn''t trained in martial arts or combat techniques, leaving him unsure of how to engage without disrupting the rhythm of the fight. Thus, he stood back, observing the battle, waiting for a chance to strike. The Firebrand commander, Jiaming Laijiaer, moved toward Yue Nan Nan, launching his first attack. With a height over 1.9 meters and a solid build, he was as large as Zhu Zi, yet incredibly agile. He lunged at Yue Nan Nan, throwing a punch toward her chest, but she quickly sidestepped, dodging the blow. He spun, following up with a knee aimed at her abdomen. Yue Nan Nan exhaled sharply, jumping backward to avoid the attack. As the Firebrand commander prepared to launch another assault, Yue Nan Nan countered with a beam of energy as thick as a wine glass, shooting from her palms toward his head. Her timing was impeccable, striking just as he moved in for an attack. It was no wonder she was called the "Goddess." Yet, Jiaming Laijiaer wasn''t to be underestimated. He twisted his body and jerked his head to the side, narrowly avoiding the energy beam, which sliced through the smoky haze surrounding him. Though he evaded the attack, the beam hit one of the lesser demons forced into position by the professor, instantly reducing it to a pool of black-purple blood. "Divine Light, damn it! This girl has some serious power!" Jiaming Laijiaer exclaimed in shock, leaping into the air. The Divine Light technique was a deadly skill taught to Yue Nan Nan by her master, Chongxu Daozhang. It was a combination of Western incantations and Eastern sacred light, designed to be a potent weapon against otherworldly beings. It was said that only the four Firebrand Lords could withstand a direct hit from it. Xiao Jie was amazed by what he saw. If a normal person took a hit like that, they wouldn''t stand a chance. This explained why the first demon Yue Nan Nan had killed had perished instantly. The other two remaining demons flew up to join the Firebrand commander, murmuring among themselves. "Professor, are you alright?" Yue Nan Nan shouted, concerned about the older man''s safety. The professor had been injured, with four deep scratches on his left shoulder, likely caused by one of the demons'' claws. His face showed signs of pain. Each Firebrand Angel carried an invisible layer of hellfire, a perpetual punishment they endured for their rebellion against God. Though they were in the human world, they couldn''t escape their torment. This same hellfire made their attacks more dangerous. The three demons in the air began to act. The two lesser demons moved to Jiaming Laijiaer''s side, placing a hand on each of his shoulders as if to help him gather strength. A menacing energy field surrounded them, creating a ten-square-meter zone of protection. The professor, sweating profusely, warned the others, "They''re about to unleash their Hellfire Punishment. I haven''t faced a Firebrand commander directly before, but this technique summons the flames of Hell itself. Even though these aren''t lords, the combined power of three demons can call forth enough fire to burn down an entire village. You should run; I might not be able to keep up. I''ll stay behind to cover you." The professor''s grim expression suggested a looming disaster. The Firebrand Angels had an energy field that made it nearly impossible to approach them. Jiaming Laijiaer continued chanting incantations, though the energy barrier muffled the sound. Yue Nan Nan and Zhu Zi, unwilling to abandon the professor, prepared for the worst. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Just when it seemed like they were facing certain death, a burst of energy shot from behind the professor''s group, surging toward the three demons in the sky. The energy was a dazzling array of lightning bolts, each as thick as a wine glass. The sheer number of lightning bolts was astonishing, shooting from behind them and from the high heavens. The relentless lightning strikes lasted for a full thirty seconds. Under the onslaught, the three Firebrand Angels burst into a flash of spectacular light, then vanished without a trace. The first to recover from the shock was the professor, who turned to look at Xiao Jie, his gaze filled with gratitude and joy. Yue Nan Nan and Zhu Zi also turned to face him. Xiao Jie laughed, walking toward them. "I told you I had three powers that were too dangerous to show off. I guess it didn''t take long to demonstrate them! Ha ha ha!" He had a habit of tapping his friends on the chest when feeling proud of himself, and this time was no different. He turned to tap someone on the chest, only to realize it was Yue Nan Nan. He was surprised at how soft it felt, like hitting a water balloon. Out of curiosity, he glanced over to see why. What he saw was a beautiful yet terrifyingly red face. At the same time, he felt the piercing stares from the other two. What had he done? Despite the embarrassment and awkwardness, he couldn''t help but feel an urge to tap or touch that spot again. How inappropriate! Even Xiao Jie was disgusted with himself. "He''s doomed," Zhu Zi thought to himself. "How do we clean up this mess?" the professor wondered, clearly concerned. "I didn''t mean to. Really! This time, I really didn''t mean to," Xiao Jie stammered, his apology feeling weak and inadequate. "Zhu Zi, can you and Xiao Jie clean up the courtyard? I''ll tend to the professor''s wounds," Yue Nan Nan said, leading the professor back inside. Zhu Zi gave Xiao Jie a mischievous smile. "Alright, let''s get to work, little brother. I don''t know what fate awaits you, but I''ll pray for you." As they cleaned the courtyard, Xiao Jie couldn''t help but think about his earlier misstep. "I just patted a young lady''s...you know, in front of two men. What was I thinking?" He raised his left hand, looking at the back of it, as if trying to find an answer. "Xiao Jie, we''ve got a problem. That Quanpeng guy is gone. Looks like you didn''t kill him after all," Zhu Zi shouted. Xiao Jie looked around and saw that Quanpeng had vanished. They had assumed he was dead, but somehow he had escaped during the chaos. "A traitor, a scumbag who sides with demons," Zhu Zi muttered. "Forget it; we might not be able to catch him now. Let''s focus on what''s next. Let''s check on the professor," Xiao Jie suggested. "Good idea, let''s go inside," Zhu Zi agreed, heading indoors. Xiao Jie followed, suddenly feeling uneasy as he remembered his earlier blunder. There was no turning back now¡ªthey were all in this together. He''d have to face the music. "Professor, how''s your wound? Should we go to the hospital?" they asked almost simultaneously, one out of concern, the other partly to distract from the earlier mishap. The professor replied, "I''m fine. Yue Nan Nan treated and bandaged my wound. Don''t worry about it, it''s nothing. But now that you''re back, Xiao Jie, call your father¡ªdon''t let him worry. Also, you should stay here tonight. I have something I want to discuss with you." Xiao Jie said, "Okay, but...uh..." He stuttered for a moment, unable to finish his sentence, and took the phone from the professor to call his father. The professor turned to Yue Nan Nan and said quietly, "Young people sometimes get carried away. No one means to do something wrong, and I believe in his character. Let it go, okay? Let''s just move on." Yue Nan Nan nodded hesitantly. Even Zhu Zi was surprised; he''d never seen the famous Goddess Yue Nan Nan accept an insult without retaliation. This was a first. Maybe even the most powerful figures have a weakness. Perhaps Yue Nan Nan had met her match. Chapter 6 After a night of heart-to-heart conversations, Xiao Jie finally understood the whole truth about the mission-bearers. Across China, there were about a hundred mission-bearers, each with their own unique abilities. Some had regular jobs, while others were freelancers who participated in societal activities. But all mission-bearers were registered with the National Security Bureau because their responsibilities often required them to travel extensively, making it impossible to maintain regular jobs and provide for their families. The government took on the responsibility of supporting the mission-bearers'' logistics, providing them with the equivalent of a civil servant''s salary as a basic guarantee, as well as covering all travel expenses for their missions. However, the work of mission-bearers was often extremely dangerous, with some even battling against powerful invaders from outer space. At times, they faced enemies with no known record, which meant they were fighting in complete ignorance of their opponent''s capabilities. Despite the risks, these mission-bearers quietly dedicated themselves to their duty, acting as unsung heroes. It wasn''t uncommon for a mission-bearer to disappear without a trace during a mission. Professor Wang had to explain these risks to Xiao Jie, as he needed to understand the gravity of their responsibilities. The professor also detailed the situation regarding the bound Firebrand King, Lucifer. Lucifer had been bound for nearly ten thousand years, though no one could be sure of the exact timeline¡ªit could be much longer. According to the information they had, Lucifer was close to breaking free from his shackles, and if he succeeded in entering the human world, it wouldn''t just be humanity at risk; all living things across all dimensions would face his wrath. He would bring his hatred of the Creator with him, sparing no one. The mission-bearers'' most critical task was to prevent Lucifer from entering the human world or, if he did, to destroy him. Xiao Jie asked, "How can we stop Lucifer from entering the human world?" The professor''s answer was that they didn''t know yet. When Xiao Jie asked how they could defeat Lucifer if he did enter, the professor''s answer was still unknown. This added to the pressure on Xiao Jie, who had agreed to become a mission-bearer and contribute to humanity''s continued progress. However, the professor''s next words inspired Xiao Jie, providing him with much-needed motivation: "Remember, our purpose is the continued advancement and progress of humanity. We fight for everyone. Your arrival has given me hope when I was on the brink of despair. Your strength has surpassed my imagination. If you have enough time to grow and perfect your skills, you might just be the weapon we need to defeat Lucifer. Work hard, my boy." Xiao Jie was invigorated by the professor''s words, even fantasizing about standing atop a mountain, sword in hand, with Lucifer begging for mercy at his feet, while the entire world looked up to him with reverence. It was an exhilarating thought. Aside from offering additional insights to the professor, Zhu Zi informed Xiao Jie that he needed to prepare his identification documents and copies to register with the National Security Bureau for his salary and other paperwork. It became clear that Zhu Zi was meticulous, not as rough around the edges as he appeared. After just one night, Xiao Jie felt he had grown significantly, beginning to develop a sense of responsibility for the world. Of course, he knew that personal growth required time; there was no shortcut to success. The professor then explained that based on their information, they estimated that Lucifer had two to three years before he entered the human world, and once he did, it would take him about two more years to acclimate and grow. This provided Xiao Jie and the other mission-bearers with a window of opportunity. Additionally, the professor outlined the future plans for Xiao Jie''s training. He would receive instruction in combat techniques, magic, Daoism, swordsmanship, and other specialized knowledge. Xiao Jie readily agreed, as he was eager to learn. While most mission-bearers lacked the talent to master all these disciplines, Xiao Jie was different¡ªhe had the talent and the thirst for knowledge. The professor also had a bit of an ulterior motive. Since Xiao Jie had just joined and was not yet registered with the National Security Bureau, he wasn''t officially a mission-bearer. Given Xiao Jie''s terrifying power, if he had a sudden impulse and acted recklessly, it could cause chaos. Thus, Yue Nan Nan, the most skilled among the mission-bearers, was chosen to guide and supervise Xiao Jie. However, in Zhu Zi''s eyes, there was a chance that these two might end up becoming a couple, and this was the perfect opportunity for them to bond. Though Yue Nan Nan grew up in Beijing, she was originally from Northeast China, even if she no longer knew where her hometown was, as her parents had passed away when she was young, leaving her in the care of her master. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The next day, around 8 a.m., Professor Wang and Zhu Zi left for Beijing, taking Xiao Jie''s identification copies to complete his registration. Given his new status, Xiao Jie would no longer be a simple salesperson restricted to one city or area. Yue Nan Nan suggested accompanying Xiao Jie to his workplace to formally resign, and he didn''t object. After all, having a beautiful woman by your side always boosted one''s confidence. Though the job of a salesperson wasn''t glamorous, there was a lot of responsibility, including customer information, payments, and other tasks that couldn''t simply be abandoned. Xiao Jie''s excellent performance also made his departure difficult for the business. His colleagues tried to persuade him to stay, even offering him a week off to rest and spend time with his "girlfriend," whom they assumed was Yue Nan Nan. Yue Nan Nan remained calm and didn''t explain, while Xiao Jie was resolute in his decision to leave. After some negotiation, the business manager, knowing it was a private company, had no choice but to let Xiao Jie go. After completing the necessary handover tasks, Xiao Jie and Yue Nan Nan left without drawing too much attention. In the following days, Xiao Jie''s life returned to a semblance of normalcy. Each morning, he would visit the farmhouse at the foot of Qianshan to train with Yue Nan Nan, then return home at night to spend time with his father. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, he would attend evening classes at the local college. About a week later, he received his new work ID and salary card, officially becoming a mission-bearer. By August 8, Xiao Jie resumed his routine, arriving at the farmhouse around 8 a.m. Under Yue Nan Nan''s guidance, he made remarkable progress. However, as his training continued, Xiao Jie began to grow restless, feeling cooped up in the farmhouse. Despite Yue Nan Nan''s efforts, Xiao Jie found it difficult to maintain focus. The constant training had begun to wear on him, given that his previous job involved regular travel and interaction with people. To alleviate the tension, they agreed to take a day off and hike through Qianshan. The saying goes, "In the north, there''s Qianshan; in the south, there''s Huangshan." Qianshan was a renowned site for both Buddhist and Daoist practices, making it a popular tourist destination with high admission fees. But with their abilities, they didn''t need to enter through the main gate. Xiao Jie felt like a superhero as they quickly explored the key landmarks, including Xianrenguan, Qingyanshi, and Xianrentai, eventually reaching Wufoding. Xiao Jie took on the role of a tour guide, describing the various sights, while Yue Nan Nan eagerly asked questions, showing genuine curiosity. By the time they returned from Wufoding, it was only 11 a.m., a journey that would typically take an entire day. As they approached Baihumiao, Yue Nan Nan suggested they take a break. "We should rest for a bit. It''s important to balance work and rest. Don''t overdo it," she said. "Sure, let''s take a break. But just to be clear, I''m not excited," Xiao Jie replied, his tone playful. Yue Nan Nan shot him a glare, then sat on a grassy patch by the path. Xiao Jie leaned against a large rock, feeling quite comfortable. "Hey, beautiful. I never asked¡ªhow old are you? You wouldn''t be like the professor, would you? He doesn''t look old but is actually quite up there," Xiao Jie teased. Yue Nan Nan responded, "I''m not like the professor. He practices Daoist health techniques, so his age isn''t apparent. I''m one year older than you." "You''re amazing! At 23, you''ve earned the title of ''Goddess'' and are famous across China," Xiao Jie said, staring at her in awe. "Everyone has a different journey. You know my story. I started learning from my master at the age of three, and completed my training by sixteen. Then, under the professor''s guidance, I became a mission-bearer. All my time was spent training and carrying out missions," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. Indeed, a young woman like her should be dreaming of romance and enjoying a carefree life, not living a life so drastically different from other women her age. Xiao Jie, though a year younger, had more worldly experience. He slid closer to Yue Nan Nan and asked, "How about I set you up with a boyfriend? I have a great friend who''s a marketing assistant at a supermarket." Yue Nan Nan''s face turned bright red. She looked at Xiao Jie, who was now sitting so close that their faces were nearly touching. The memory of Xiao Jie accidentally touching her chest earlier flashed through her mind, and she grew even more uncomfortable, not knowing where to place her hands. Xiao Jie found the whole situation amusing. The famous Goddess could act like an ordinary girl, blushing and shy. But their moment of lightheartedness was cut short when a small green Chapter 7 Over the next three days, Xiao Jie absorbed knowledge like a massive dry sponge encountering fresh water. Master Wang was indeed an extraordinary individual. He had dedicated his life to practicing swordsmanship and Daoist arts, and being a true sword immortal, he never studied auxiliary magic or minor techniques. What he taught Xiao Jie was entirely aggressive magic and the most powerful forms of swordsmanship. Xiao Jie, with his immense potential, was like a boundless energy reservoir, and learning how to transform and release that energy through Master Wang''s training was almost too easy for him. Three days might seem like a short time, but Xiao Jie learned a great deal during this period. He could release Level 3 or higher sword energy from each finger in various forms, and even a one-meter-thick stone tablet could be easily pierced. He could also release these multiple times without interruption, which surprised even Master Wang. Additionally, when prepared, Xiao Jie could release the highest level of sword energy, Level 6, with his sword fingers. Level 6 sword energy was invisible, had a range of up to five thousand meters, could pierce through any obstacle, and could be controlled by the user''s will. It was comparable in power to Yue Nan Nan''s Exorcising Holy Light, but its invisibility made it even more threatening. That wasn''t all. Techniques like Palm Sword, Leg Sword, and Flying Sword, which were individual combat skills, were easily mastered by Xiao Jie under Master Wang''s detailed instruction. Xiao Jie also learned two area-of-effect techniques, Open-Hand Thunderstrike and Sword Tomb Flash, both at Level 3 or higher. The progress Xiao Jie made was terrifying to both Master Wang and Yue Nan Nan. If they took him to Yuan Dun Shang Ren for advanced training, his all-encompassing talent might turn the world upside down. The three days flew by, and Master Wang thought to himself, "Good thing I only planned to stay for three days. If I had stayed ten days or more, I would''ve run out of things to teach him." On the third night, Master Wang called Xiao Jie over. "Xiao Jie, we''re leaving tomorrow. Go home and tell your father you''re going on a business trip, but don''t mention how long you''ll be gone¡ªit¡¯s hard to predict. It''s a great opportunity for you to gain experience. Don''t bring too much, just a couple of changes of clothes and toiletries," he advised. Xiao Jie nodded, thinking to himself, "I can only say I''m going on a business trip. I can''t tell my father that I''m now a mission-bearer and a superhuman tasked with saving the world. Okay, let''s just take it one step at a time." He made up his mind. The following day, Xiao Jie left with Master Wang, feeling a mix of uncertainty and excitement about the future. Due to the professor''s instructions, Yue Nan Nan had to stay in Anshan, so she couldn''t go with them. As she bid farewell to Xiao Jie, Yue Nan Nan felt a deep sense of unease. She had never felt this way before¡ªshe didn''t want him to leave her. But for Xiao Jie''s growth and the future of humanity, she had no choice but to silently see him off. As he walked away, she let out a deep sigh, hoping he would return soon. During his time with Yue Nan Nan, Xiao Jie also felt a bit reluctant to leave the beautiful woman. However, he quickly brushed off those feelings, thinking it might be typical male infatuation with a beautiful woman. He decided not to overthink it. The journey to Laoshan involved a bus ride to Dalian and then a boat to Qingdao, which took over two days. By the time they reached the foot of Laoshan, it was already evening. Laoshan, like Qianshan, was a famous tourist destination with a long history. But for people like Xiao Jie and Master Wang, tickets and entrance fees were unnecessary¡ªthey didn''t need to enter through the main gate. Moreover, they were there to find Yuan Dun Shang Ren to train Xiao Jie, not for sightseeing. Yuan Dun Shang Ren''s secluded home was on the north side of Sanbiao Peak, in a remote valley surrounded by tall trees and dense vegetation. As they approached Sanbiao Peak, it was already dark, with the wind rustling through the trees. Xiao Jie asked, "Master, are we lost? Where are we heading?" Master Wang gave him a disdainful look. "I''ve lived here for five years. Don''t worry, I know my way around." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. As they continued, a sudden burst of light and a faint energy vibration came from a nearby valley. "Hold on, that energy vibration is intense! What''s going on?" Master Wang whispered to Xiao Jie. Xiao Jie asked, "What''s energy vibration? I can''t feel anything." Master Wang gave him another disdainful look. "You can''t feel the energy vibrations in the air? That''s elemental energy. Our magic, Daoist techniques, all rely on elemental energy. Some people have more, others less. You wouldn''t know, because I didn''t teach you the basics." Xiao Jie understood. "So this is elemental energy," he thought. Master Wang truly had a wealth of knowledge. Master Wang continued, "It seems like beings from the fifth dimension are entering our world. All kinds of other-dimensional and interdimensional intelligent life forms must feel threatened. I need to help them out¡ªthese fifth-dimensional beings can hold on for now, but they won''t last long if those demons adapt to their tactics. Xiao Jie, stay here and don''t wander off," he said before flying off to join the battle. Xiao Jie, being curious and competitive, wasn''t about to sit idle. Using his invisibility technique, he flew over to the battlefield. With Master Wang''s arrival, the battle began to turn in favor of the fifth-dimensional beings. Despite this, they couldn''t quickly overpower the four firebrand commanders. The battle reached a stalemate. For Xiao Jie, this was a learning opportunity, but he couldn''t find much excitement in watching the battle. His strength had grown so much that if Master Wang allowed him to join in, he could easily take down the firebrand commanders without much effort. Suddenly, Xiao Jie felt two other energy vibrations coming from the west side of the valley. One of them was particularly strong, comparable to Yue Nan Nan''s power level. Quietly, he moved towards the source of these vibrations. In a small wooded area, he found a firebrand angel, about 1.7 meters tall, pinning down a young woman from the fifth dimension. She was struggling but seemed to be losing strength. Unlike other firebrands, this one wasn''t trying to kill her; he was trying to assault her. He had already torn open the seamless clothing on her chest, revealing a portion of her snow-white skin. Despite her attempts to cover herself, Xiao Jie, watching from above, saw everything. He swallowed, thinking, "She''s perfect! I wonder if Yue Nan Nan''s chest is as perfect as this!" The fifth-dimensional woman, seemingly unable to resist any longer, let out a desperate groan. This sound snapped Xiao Jie back to reality¡ªhe was a mission-bearer, not just a voyeur. Without hesitation, Xiao Jie canceled his invisibility, flicked his little finger, and sent Level 3 sword energy towards the firebrand''s head, then teleported to the ground a few meters away. The firebrand immediately released the young woman, leaping back to avoid the attack, then glared at Xiao Jie. Xiao Jie intended to play the hero by offering the young woman a piece of clothing or removing his shirt to cover her chest, but he forgot about that after seeing her bare skin from above. The fifth-dimensional woman looked at him with fear and a plea for help, while hugging herself to cover her exposed chest. Xiao Jie nodded, saying, "Don''t worry, my friends are dealing with those other demons. I''ll get rid of this despicable creature." The fifth-dimensional woman nodded in hope, tears streaming down her face. The area was thick with tall grass, some reaching Xiao Jie''s waist, while the firebrand was even shorter. Xiao Jie felt like he was bullying a child. This momentary expression of disdain seemed to trigger the firebrand''s anger. The demon looked at Xiao Jie and shouted, "You wretched human! Ruining my plans! I can kill you as easily as squashing a bug. If you know what''s good for you, you''ll leave now, while I''m not in the mood for killing. Otherwise¡ª" With a swift motion, he shot a chain of fire from his fingertips, striking a large tree nearby. The tree, over a meter in diameter, exploded with a large hole in its center, leaving a trail of smoke. "That''s a powerful attack. Is that a Level 3 spell?" Xiao Jie asked nonchalantly. The firebrand seemed angrier, glaring at Xiao Jie. "Listen up, I''m the First Commander under the Firebrand King! You messed up my plans! Do you know who I am? I''m the great Qu Mar! I wanted this girl because she''s from the fifth dimension. Gaining her means I''ll have the same perfect body as the fifth-dimensional beings, free from the torment of the inferno! But if I can''t have her, she''s doomed! She''s been poisoned with my Venomous Lust Mist¡ªwithout consummation, she won''t survive. But it seems you''re not planning on leaving. I guess I''ll kill you first!" Qu Mar lunged at Xiao Jie. Xiao Jie had no choice but to fight¡ªhe had to rescue the girl and protect himself. The demon attacked with a high spinning kick towards Xiao Jie''s head, but he dodged, shifting back to avoid it. Qu Mar then used his spinning momentum to deliver a low kick aimed at Xiao Jie''s abdomen. Xiao Jie stepped to the left, avoiding the attack, but Qu Mar closed in, trying to grab Xiao Jie''s shoulders with his claw-like hands. Xiao Jie knew he couldn''t let Chapter 8 After defeating the Archangel of Fire, Tang Xiaojie was so excited that he wanted to run to Master Wang and brag about his achievement. But then he heard a faint cry for help. It came from the five-dimensional girl. "Help, help me. I''m not going to make it. Help me," she pleaded weakly. Tang Xiaojie turned and walked over to the five-dimensional girl, squatting down to take a closer look. She was indeed in a bad state, trembling weakly all over, with a flush on her face. Her hands were gripping the nearby grass, sometimes tightening, sometimes loosening, and she had given up trying to cover her chest. Her cries for help were more of a desperate instinct for survival than anything else. At that moment, Xiaojie remembered what Qu Ma''er had said: this girl was doomed. She had been poisoned by the Lust Bone Poison Mist. If she didn¡¯t get "that," she would die. But how could he ask her for it? Wouldn''t that be taking advantage of her? He couldn''t do such a thing! She was from a five-dimensional space; if something went wrong, it could cause an international incident. Although Xiaojie was somewhat tempted, reasoning that it was the only way to save her, his rational side suppressed his desire. Xiaojie decided to return to the battlefield in the valley to help Master Wang and the others. Once her people arrived, they could save her if they could. If not, she would have to accept her fate. With this in mind, Xiaojie stood up to leave, but a weak hand grabbed his ankle. A pair of misty eyes looked at him imploringly. The girl seemed to be on the verge of collapse, her chest heaving rapidly. Seeing her desperate eyes and sensing her faint will to live, Xiaojie could no longer resist. He picked her up and carried her into the depths of the grass. A faint cloud drifted across the sky, obscuring the moon. Xiaojie tore off her exquisitely seamless clothes piece by piece. The sounds of their bodies colliding and rubbing together blended with the other sounds of nature. The battle in the valley was nearing its end. The remaining Fire Archangels, perhaps sensing the absence of their leader, lost their will to fight and retreated under mutual cover. By now, the sky was already turning light. Master Wang¡¯s selfless assistance quickly earned the gratitude of the five-dimensional beings, and the two sides engaged in a warm conversation. In the grassy field to the west, Xiaojie lay in the embrace of nature, listening to the five-dimensional girl¡¯s story. She had woken up a while ago, her people possessing strong vitality, and she was aware of what had just happened. She was very grateful to Xiaojie for saving her life. Xiaojie also gained an unexpected reward. At the end of their intimate encounter, a small piece of fresh crimson red adhered to Xiaojie¡¯s manhood, spreading rapidly over his body before merging into him. At that moment, Xiaojie experienced a sensation akin to being blessed by the Three Treasures, undergoing another transformation. Xiaojie¡¯s body changed significantly. Although it appeared normal, it could stretch and contract like rubber when needed. He could change his shape like a squid to pass through obstacles or even transform into other animals or plants. It was incredible. The five-dimensional girl, named Furly Linda, explained that this was a natural evolution obtained from mating with a five-dimensional virgin. Xiaojie had now evolved into a five-dimensional being, potentially possessing even greater potential. How great it could become was beyond anyone¡¯s imagination. Furly Linda was one of the few females in the five-dimensional space, as most five-dimensional beings were hermaphrodites. They transcended space and time, so they didn¡¯t fear death. If they faced a fatal threat, they could condense their essence and soul into an egg and be reborn. While rare, single-gender five-dimensional beings did exist. Furly was one such exception, cherished and protected like a precious gem. Wherever she went, she was highly regarded and safeguarded because only single-gender five-dimensional beings could produce new ones. Now, Furly wore one of Xiaojie''s oversized shirts, her enchanting eyes filled with admiration, affection, and gratitude as she looked at him. Her light blue mid-length hair draped over her shoulders. She sat on the grass, her perfect, slender legs half-bent, showcasing the superior qualities of five-dimensional beings. Xiaojie found it hard to look at her, as each glance stirred a feeling of admiration within him. Xiaojie asked, "What brings you here? Why don¡¯t you stay in the five-dimensional space?" Furly sighed, "We are the most sensitive beings to everything except gods. You could say we are the closest species to gods. We have sensed that an evil force is coming, and it seems to be targeting your three-dimensional world. We had a wise man named Yuandun who had contact with us before. This time, we came to the three-dimensional world specifically to find him. With his great wisdom, he can give us accurate answers." Xiaojie: "Aren¡¯t you the ones closest to gods? Why do you need to seek advice from a three-dimensional sage?" Furly smiled, "All five-dimensional beings originally evolved from three-dimensional beings. Our ancestors reached the five-dimensional world through continuous cultivation. And Yuandun was extraordinary. He could even evolve to the six-dimensional space, which is considered the realm of gods. No evil force would dare to touch the six-dimensional space." Xiaojie was stunned, sitting up and looking at Furly in amazement. "I never expected that. No wonder you look just like us." Furly looked at Xiaojie tenderly, reaching out to touch his face. "Unfortunately, we have strict spatial rules and orders. Even though you saved me, I can¡¯t stay here with you. After our mission is complete, I must return. Unless you come to our place. You are now considered a five-dimensional being with a perfect body. But I know you won¡¯t come. You have your mission." Xiaojie looked into Furly¡¯s clear eyes and sighed. "The future is unpredictable. At least I don¡¯t have that ability. Let¡¯s leave it to fate. For now, let¡¯s go back to your friends." Furly said nothing more, standing up and following Xiaojie back to the valley. It was clear that Qu Ma''er had forced her to this side. That Fire Archangel had that ability. When Xiaojie and Furly returned to the battlefield in the valley, Master Wang and the other five-dimensional beings were anxious. They had noticed the absence of both Tang Xiaojie and Furly Linda. During the battle, they had been too engaged in conversation to remember their companions, but now that the fight had ended long ago, they noticed the missing members. Both sides fell into chaos again when Xiaojie and Furly appeared. It was evident that Furly held a high status among the five-dimensional beings. Master Wang, upon seeing Xiaojie, was furious. "Where did you go? Why don¡¯t you listen? I told you to wait for me. You could have helped us or waited here. But you ran off." Xiaojie patiently explained everything to Master Wang. When he mentioned defeating the Archangel Qu Ma''er, Master Wang was shocked. When Xiaojie said he had become a true five-dimensional being, Master Wang was nearly in disbelief. "Amazing! What a stroke of luck! Damn it! Why didn¡¯t I ever get such an opportunity? I¡¯m over forty, twice your age, and I never encountered anything like this!" Master Wang seemed to be talking to Xiaojie and to himself. The other five-dimensional beings learned about what had happened from Fu''er Li and came over to thank Xiao Jie. As they expressed their gratitude, their gazes held a hint of ambiguity, as if they were aware of the intimate encounter between Xiao Jie and Fu''er Li, giving off a sense of camaraderie mixed with other subtle emotions. After some polite exchanges, both parties decided to head to Master Yuan Dun''s residence together. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. At this point, Xiao Jie also learned that the huge metal cocoon was actually the five-dimensional beings'' means of transportation. Their intelligence was truly impressive. Not to mention how this metal cocoon was seamlessly formed in one go, its power system was entirely green and eco-friendly, powered by sunlight and moonlight. As long as there was even a tiny bit of light, it could sustain its power indefinitely, and during times of ample light, it would store excess energy. Simply amazing. The five-dimensional beings called this vehicle a "navigation vessel." Due to its large size, it was inconvenient to park near Master Yuan Dun''s residence, so it had been left here. Unfortunately, as soon as they exited the vessel, they encountered those nasty demons. This was the backstory of how Master Wang and Xiao Jie came to meet them. Before setting off, Fu''er Li returned to the navigation vessel and changed into another seamless garment, accentuating her graceful figure with a divine allure. During their journey, Xiao Jie learned that Fu''er Li was actually the true leader of their group, and the other five-dimensional beings were merely her attendants. This surprised Xiao Jie quite a bit! In the five-dimensional world, Fu''er Li not only had a noble status due to her unique gender, but she was also the daughter of the Great Elder. The five-dimensional world had no politics or aristocracy; everyone was equal. However, like any society, they needed a supreme leader, and the Great Elder was that figure. The Great Elder was a male with an independent gender, just like Fu''er Li''s mother, who was a female with an independent gender. This made Fu''er Li the beloved of the entire realm. Each person in the group had different thoughts as they journeyed, but the most complicated feelings were undoubtedly between Xiao Jie and Fu''er Li. Soon, the group of seven reached the northern end of Sanbiao Peak. Under Master Wang''s guidance, they arrived at an inconspicuous valley. This place was almost never visited, making the wild grass and trees the happiest inhabitants here. The seven used their flying technique to enter the valley, where a winding path appeared before them. Following the path for about ten minutes, they arrived at a courtyard. The walls were covered with climbing plants and vines, making it difficult to recognize it as a courtyard without careful inspection. Even the gate was heavily covered in vegetation. Master Wang gently parted the vines and pushed open the gate, which was not locked. As the seven entered the courtyard, a new world unfolded before their eyes. It was like a mythical utopia! The courtyard, about five hundred square meters, featured artfully placed rockeries, pavilions, and neat pathways. In the southernmost part of the courtyard, a spring flowed from a one-meter-high rock, the clear water streaming into several pools within the courtyard before exiting through a drainage system in the northern corner of the courtyard wall. At the back of the courtyard, there was a natural mountain body, with a two-meter-high and one-meter-wide wooden door at the base, seemingly growing out of the mountain. Master Wang introduced this as Master Yuan Dun''s cave residence, with the door being controlled by magic without any handle. It was truly a wondrous place. Xiao Jie felt that even the air here seemed fresher, making one feel invigorated. As the seven of them admired the scenery, the cave door opened, and a young Daoist boy of about fifteen or sixteen emerged. Walking toward Master Wang, he said, "Master said there are distinguished guests, so he sent me to welcome them. I wondered who it could be, and it turns out to be you, Little Wang. Why didn''t you come inside? It''s been a long time since you visited Master." This fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy called Master Wang "Little Wang," making the older man''s face turn red, but he still had to smile and say, "Senior Brother, please don''t tease me. I missed Master, so I came to see him." "Alright, stop explaining. If it weren''t for you needing Master''s help, would you have come? You good-for-nothing. And you brought so many people this time. What am I supposed to say to you?" The young Daoist boy scanned the group as he spoke. Master Wang replied, "Senior Brother, please don''t tease me. Take me to see Master quickly. These friends are from the five-dimensional world and have come specifically to see Master about an important matter." This statement made the young Daoist boy drop his disdainful expression. He quickly said, "Oh, no wonder I sensed such gentle elemental forces from you. You are indeed esteemed beings. Please follow me, Master is waiting for you." The young Daoist boy then led them toward the cave. Xiao Jie felt a bit displeased with this young Daoist boy. Such arrogance at such a young age, calling Master Wang "Little Wang" despite being over forty. Even if he had been a disciple longer, it seemed disrespectful. How could such a great sage like Yuan Dun have such an impolite disciple? It was truly puzzling! However, as they spent more time together later, Xiao Jie learned that this young Daoist boy practiced authentic Daoist alchemy. At sixteen, he had already achieved immortality and was now over three hundred years old, although he still looked sixteen. He could change his appearance if he wanted to, but he saw no need. This young Daoist boy was named Lin Kainan, and he had been with the old sage Yuan Dun from a young age. For some reason, Yuan Dun did not give him a Daoist name like other disciples, so he remained Lin Kainan. Despite his appearance, he was incredibly skilled and would be a formidable ally when he and Xiao Jie later ventured into the unknown world together. But that is another story. Once everyone entered the cave residence, they let out another collective gasp. The entrance led to a large hall, meticulously arranged with eight chairs on each side, each paired with a small table. Four walls displayed four paintings of the soul leaving the body, and the cave''s height was about five meters. Near the ceiling, a floating light ball the size of a fist provided natural and gentle illumination. The hall led to a corridor with three smaller doors on each side. The purpose of these rooms was unclear. At the end of the corridor was another door, indicating that there were seven small rooms or chambers inside the cave. Lin Kainan asked everyone to sit in the hall while he went to inform the Master. Xiao Jie and the others could only wait patiently. Lin Kainan walked to the door at the end of the corridor, and before he could knock, a voice from inside said, "Kainan, please bring Fu''er Li and her companions in. Let Wang Yong and his young friend wait for a while." "Yes, Master, please wait a moment," Lin Kainan responded before returning. The cave''s acoustics were excellent, and everyone heard it clearly. Fu''er Li and the other five-dimensional beings stood up and nodded to Lin Kainan. Lin Kainan led them to the door he had just approached. The door opened automatically, and once they were inside, it closed behind them. Xiao Jie and Master Wang sat in the hall, exchanging a knowing smile. Worried that Xiao Jie might misunderstand Master Yuan Dun''s intentions, Master Wang explained, "It''s right to attend to the five-dimensional beings first. We, after all, are family and should prioritize the guests." Xiao Jie understood perfectly, "Master, you don''t need to explain. I get it. But your master is truly amazing. Even the five-dimensional beings regard him as a great sage. You must be incredibly strong too, aren''t you holding back a lot when you teach me?" This half-joking remark with a hint of flattery made Master Wang feel very pleased. Master Wang blushed, "Not at all. You don''t understand. Reaching the level of Sword Immortal might seem impressive to ordinary people, but within the Daoist sects, a Sword Immortal is considered incapable of practicing the highest forms of alchemy. I''m merely a lower-grade Sword Immortal." In his conversation with Master Wang, Xiao Jie gained a deeper understanding of Master Yuan Dun and the mysterious cave residence. The room at the end of the corridor was Master Yuan Dun''s private chamber, which also included a living room and bedroom. The six rooms along the corridor were smaller, with the leftmost room being Lin Kainan''s residence, and the one opposite it used to be Master Wang''s. These rooms were seldom occupied, except for the occasional visiting guest who might stay for a night or two. This place was Master Yuan Dun''s retreat from the world. The old sage was beyond worldly concerns, and no one knew his exact age. He seemed to neither eat nor sleep, functioning like an eternal machine that required no energy. According to Master Wang, this was the highest level of Daoist alchemy: the state of a perfected being who transcends sleep and food, truly free from the cycles of birth, aging, sickness, and death. Hearing this, Xiao Jie felt fortunate: having such a high master to teach him must be a great blessing. The teachings would undoubtedly surpass those of Master Wang! After some time, the door to Master Yuan Dun''s room opened again, and Fu''er Li and the other four five-dimensional beings emerged. Their faces showed no obvious emotions, but Fu''er Li approached Xiao Jie and said, "I have to leave now. There are a few things I need to tell you. Shall we take a walk outside?" Chapter 9 Here''s the translation of the provided passage into English: Fuerli and the others have been gone for almost half a month now, and it''s already late August. During this time, Xiaojie''s schedule was packed due to his talent in almost all elemental skills. Therefore, Master Yuandun developed a systematic training plan for Xiaojie. According to Master Yuandun, although Xiaojie can learn all skills, one should not be greedy; there should be a focus. So, Master Yuandun selected several reasonable combinations of skills from various professions to teach Xiaojie. In Xiaojie''s learning skills, they include Daoist skills: Healing Art (healing and restoring vitality), Soul Shield (magic defense), God''s Shield (physical defense), Dispelling Art (detoxification and alleviating adverse reactions), Demon Subduing Divine Light (powerful against creatures from other realms, especially those with evil aura), and Strengthening Blessing Art (enhances both physical and magic attacks and has defensive capabilities). Magic skills: Flame Punishment, Wind Punishment, Aurora Splash (single-target attack), Frost Roar, Flying Rock Walk, Water-Fire Collision (group attack), Soul Prayer (rapid mana recovery when mana is depleted). Swordsmanship skills: Besides what Master Wang taught Xiaojie about manipulating sword qi with elemental power, Master Yuandun taught Xiaojie skills like Qi Barrier (physical and magical defense using one''s true qi), Qi Light Wave (versatile single-target and area attack, depending on the user''s ability and intent), Heavenly Light Sword Shot (emits sword qi from the eyes, with excellent attack concealment). Master Yuandun truly deserves to be called a great sage. When he learned that Xiaojie possessed three potential skills, he helped Xiaojie strengthen and adjust them. Xiaojie once used a group lightning attack to kill Jia Minglai and its two companions, a magic skill called Thunder God''s Might. This is a coverage-type group attack magic exceeding level six. Generally, large-scale magic beyond level six is considered taboo magic against natural forces, but Xiaojie, having never learned incantations, could not fully utilize its power. However, as Master Yuandun suggested, it should not be modified or enhanced, allowing Xiaojie to cast it quickly. There are also two large-scale magic skills, one being Heavenly River Roar and the other Frozen Sea. Frozen Sea is extremely domineering, capable of freezing all objects within several square meters instantaneously, then exploding them into shards. After Master Yuandun taught Xiaojie the corresponding incantations, this skill became a true taboo magic. Master Yuandun warned Xiaojie never to use it casually, as the destructive power of violating natural laws is too great, and using it without protection is dangerous. Because when you chant the incantation, all elemental power condenses, preventing the release of other magic. Xiaojie also understands this truth very well. Heavenly River Roar is a magic skill with environmental restrictions; it can only be used in areas with sufficient water sources. Master Yuandun taught Xiaojie the corresponding incantations to transform this skill from an offensive magic into a summoning magic. As long as there is sufficient water source, Xiaojie can summon extremely powerful water giants to assist in battle, summoning up to four water giants at a time, each with a height of ten meters and reasonable agility. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Of course, no one can rely solely on their potential to use magic limitlessly and automatically improve their own level. Master Yuandun also taught Xiaojie a kind of sacred prayer spell. This spell is a method of cultivation that connects one''s own abilities with the source of universal energy by silently praying, very practical. Master Yuandun also specially compiled the things Xiaojie learned into a handwritten book and gave it to Xiaojie, which deeply moved Xiaojie. Xiaojie settled down here for more than half a month. With Master Wang and Elder Lin Kenan accompanying him, the days were not boring. Another day passed, and Xiaojie practiced diligently. After dinner, Xiaojie took a shower and returned to his room, lying down. Tang Xiaojie lay on the bed, picked up a pocket watch from the bedside. It''s a very old-fashioned pocket watch, but the entire watch and chain are made of a unique metal from the five-dimensional space, dense white gold. There are also soft elemental fluctuations on the watch body. This pocket watch was given to him by Fuerli before she left. Apart from telling the time, its real function is a space key. It can open the door of space, allowing Xiaojie to travel back and forth between the three-dimensional world of humans and the five-dimensional world, with a cooldown time of 24 hours. Xiaojie remembered the conversation with Fuerli before she left: "Xiaojie, I asked Master Yuandun to calculate our fate. The hexagram says we are destined but separated, but as long as you and I are willing, our fate will continue." At that time, Fuerli''s charming appearance and hopeful eyes almost made Xiaojie decide to return to the five-dimensional space with her. But when Xiaojie hesitated, he thought of Yue Nannan. Eventually, Xiaojie stayed. He couldn''t make any promises to Fuerli. He thought of Yue Nannan again, what is she doing now? How is she? In the chaotic thoughts, Xiaojie gradually fell asleep. Although it''s still very hot in late August, the mornings and evenings are much cooler. In Laoshan, Shandong, it may not be very noticeable, but at the foot of Qianshan Mountain in Anshan, Liaoning, the slight change in weather can already be felt. Yue Nannan woke up early, as usual, ever since Xiaojie followed Master Wang away, she has been getting up early every day. Perhaps it''s a habit developed since childhood. She can be truly considered as an early bird. Stretching her muscles in the morning, practicing some punches, adjusting her breath, and absorbing the rising elemental power. It''s because of this persistence over the past decade or so that Yue Nannan has her current skills and achievements. It''s what earned her the title of a goddess recognized within the circle. However, now her morning routine has added one more item: staring into space at the end, thinking about the girl''s concerns. Until past eight o''clock, Yue Nannan''s morning exercises were considered complete. She moved a chair from the yard to rest. Just as she sat down for less than a moment, the courtyard door was pushed open. A tall and familiar figure appeared in the beauty''s sight, accompanied by a young man about 1.75 meters tall. "Zhuzi, why are you here? And Dawei, you two seem to never partner together. How come you''re together now?" Yue Nannan stood up from her seat and said to Zhuzi and the young man. Before Zhuzi could speak, Dawei spoke first: "There''s no choice. I''m here to take over your watch. So, I came with him. Otherwise, I don''t like being with him. Wherever this big guy goes, he''s the most attractive. I feel like a supporting role next to him. Pack up, Zhuzi will Chapter 10 Tang Xiaojie stepped onto the land, which was clearly a battlefield that had just been fought. And it was the aftermath of a major army battle. Countless corpses of soldiers lay scattered around, blood pooling in depressions on the ground, forming pools of blood. Dead bodies and weapons were everywhere, along with severed limbs and smoldering fires. The pervasive bloodiness made Tang Xiaojie, who had lived in a civilized world for over twenty years, feel nauseous. Facing such a gruesome scene, even Yue Nannan was stunned. Pillar tried hard to control his emotions, attempting to reassure Xiaojie and Nannan with his usual calm demeanor, but he couldn''t hold back and ended up vomiting first. In a critical moment, it was Master Wang who demonstrated the composure of a true swordsman. He patted Pillar''s back and said to everyone, "Looks like my master deliberately pushed forward our planned arrival time by a few years. Now, it should be the era when Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang battled Chi You. Perhaps this is what my master meant by showing us the truth and ensuring our safe return." Pillar, while vomiting, managed to say, "I really don''t understand what Master means! I explained clearly that we were here to retrieve the divine artifact, Extreme Heaven Blade. Yet he sent us to the start of the war. How are we supposed to get the artifact now? If we take it, how will Emperor Yan defeat Chi You?" Yue Nannan, trying to calm herself, said, "Let''s not dwell on this for now. There must be a reason for Master''s actions. I trust Master Yuan Dun; he''s the wisest sage I know. He wouldn''t make a mistake." Xiaojie, listening to their words, remained silent. He thought to himself: Since I''m already here, it''s better to understand the current situation and my own predicament. Master Wang, with a vigilant look around, gestured for everyone to be quiet and lowered his voice. "Let''s keep our voices down. The battlefield is nearby, and though it''s in the past, I can still hear the sounds of fighting." Everyone listened carefully. Indeed, there were sounds of battle. At this point, Pillar also recovered, not because he felt better, but because he had nothing left to vomit. It seemed like his stomach was empty. Pillar, trying to focus, pointed with his hand, "There are shadows of torches moving over there." Due to the darkness and the fact that the newcomers were still unfamiliar with the environment, they couldn''t quite discern the directions. The best way to understand the current time would be to find someone and ask. Since they were all Chinese, even if there were differences in written language from ancient times, they could still understand each other when speaking. After exchanging glances, the group moved towards the direction of the battlefield. After walking about a kilometer, they stopped at the edge of a forest. The battlefield was in the forest, and it seemed like the fighting parties weren''t too numerous. The group cautiously approached the edge of the forest and looked inside. There were two groups, each with about a thousand men, fiercely battling each other. Both groups wore rough cloth clothes and straw sandals. The weapons in their hands were made of wrought iron and were crude but heavy. These people were all tall and muscular, with an average height of about two meters, making them seem somewhat similar to Westerners in physique, but even stronger on average. However, upon closer inspection, they were all yellow-skinned, clearly Chinese. It''s no wonder that many unearthed artifacts and fossilized skeletons of ancient humans were so tall; it seems that the ancient Chinese weren''t inferior to Europeans and Americans in physique. Perhaps it was us Chinese who degenerated over time. Just as the two sides seemed evenly matched, the battlefield changed. From one side of the forest, a hidden ambush emerged. The number of reinforcements was much larger than the combined forces currently fighting. The leader of this reinforcement was particularly eye-catching: nearly five meters tall, clad in shiny black steel armor, with long curly hair on his back, and a single horn on his head, similar to a rhinoceros''s. He held a giant sword in his hands. As this strange man led his troops into battle, the group currently fighting immediately turned and fled upon seeing him. In their panicked retreat, their expressions were filled with fear and terror. Amidst the fleeing crowd, calls to their comrades to run faster could be heard: "Run, Chi You is here!" It turned out that this strange man was the legendary war god. And wherever the war god went, death followed, leaving no trace of life behind. This time, Xiaojie and the others witnessed it firsthand. As the fleeing soldiers turned around, Chi You plunged his war sword into the ground, stretched out both hands forward, palms facing downward. He recited a rapid incantation. In just over two seconds, the incantation was completed, and elemental gates opened up from the ground. Countless fire angels leaped out of the elemental gates and pounced on the fleeing soldiers. In a moment, the battlefield turned from a place of combat to a slaughterhouse. With demons joining the fray, how could mortals resist? Truly, wherever the war god went, there was no chance of survival! During this time, Xiaojie tried several times to intervene and stop the demons from slaughtering their own people or, rather, their ancestors, but was stopped by Master Wang. Master Wang was a very calm person; he could see that if Chi You could summon so many fire angels in just over two seconds, it seemed that his elemental power was not inferior to that of Master Yuan Dun. If Xiaojie intervened at this time, he would definitely not stand a chance. Moreover, this was history; how could someone from the future change it? After a moment, the battlefield returned to its natural tranquility. A large group of fire angels came to Chi You''s side and knelt down on one knee. One of the fire angel commanders said to Chi You, "Great God, our mission is complete." If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Chi You glanced at them and said, "You''ve done well. Take away the souls of these people. Use their soul power to help your king achieve liberation sooner. And convey my greetings to him!" The fire angel commander looked up at Chi You and said, "Great God, thank you for your generosity. Our king asked me to remind you that the counterattack of Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang is about to begin. They have obtained the Extreme Heaven Blade." After saying this, the fire angel commander revealed a faint, imperceptible smirk. Then he stood up and instructed the two fire angel commanders behind him to collect the souls of the deceased on the spot and prepare to leave. Chiyu fell into contemplation. Through this conversation, we can analyze that Chiyu should be an ally of the Fire Emperor Lukifu. It seems that even the devils from the four-dimensional space of hell are afraid of Chiyu, who is known as the God of War. It''s unclear what will happen in the future, but it appears that there are many things that historical records cannot and will not document. Although these internal details have been submerged in the river of time, wise figures like Yuan Dun must be very clear about them. There must be some important events, and perhaps from here, clues can be found that will help in the future battle against Lukifu. The demons of the Fire Emperor completed their task of capturing souls, and they opened several elemental gates to leave. Chiyu looked at the calm battlefield and let out a thunderous roar: "What is the Extreme Heaven Blade?! In the hands of the God of Punishment, it had the power to kill the Heavenly Emperor, and now in the hands of Yan and Huang, how much power can it unleash! Am I afraid of them? I will kill anyone who dares to oppose me. I will let all living beings in the world live under my rule. Hahaha." After the resounding roar echoed through the heavens and earth, all the surviving warriors knelt at Chiyu''s feet and bowed their heads, catering to the majesty of their king. After the roar, Chiyu emitted billowing black smoke that enveloped him and all his followers. When the smoke dissipated, everyone had disappeared from the battlefield. Master Wang saw this scene and was speechless with shock. Yue Nannan said, "Amazing, to be able to transport hundreds of people at once using the Transfer Shield spell. His elemental power and technique have reached unprecedented heights!" Zhu Zi added, "Not only that, his casting speed is astonishingly fast. I really doubt how Yan and Huang defeated him." Tang Xiaojie looked at the three stunned people beside him and asked, "What should we do next? If we continue like this, we''ll have no clues!" At this moment, Master Wang snapped out of his shock and said, "It''s unbelievable. Xiaojie, since you appeared, I''ve been constantly amazed. I thought you were the most abnormal creature I had ever seen, but seeing Chiyu, I realized that anything is possible in this world. His true strength displayed is probably not even matched by my master in a head-on confrontation." Xiaojie looked at Master Wang indifferently and asked, "So what should we do now, and how?" "Let''s go back to the battlefield where we came from and see if there are any survivors. We can only continue once we find someone alive to clarify the situation," Master Wang said, soliciting opinions from everyone again. Zhu Zi said, "There''s no need to discuss it. Let''s do as Master Wang says. Let''s go see. There are definitely no survivors here; their souls have all been taken by the demons. The previous battlefield is our only hope." After speaking, Zhu Zi headed towards the direction they came from. As the saying goes, perseverance pays off. In their diligent search, they finally found a wounded but not fatally injured survivor. This person was very weak but not in mortal danger. With the simultaneous use of healing spells by Master Wang and Xiaojie, the survivor quickly regained mobility. The behavior of this person after recovering surprised everyone once again. In the eyes of Xiaojie and others, people over four thousand years ago were supposed to be barbarians without much etiquette, not yet developed to the level of civilized manners. But the behavior of this person overturned all their conventional thinking. He was over two meters tall, with a strong and robust physique. His appearance was average but appeared very simple. There was a half-inch scar on his left cheek. The behavior of this person after recovering surprised everyone once again. In the eyes of Xiaojie and others, people over four thousand years ago were supposed to be barbarians without much etiquette, not yet developed to the level of civilized manners. But the behavior of this person overturned all their conventional thinking. He was over two meters tall, with a strong and robust physique. His appearance was average but appeared very simple. There was a half-inch scar on his left cheek. This person''s behavior upon recovery, bowing on both knees in extreme gratitude towards Xiaojie and Master Wang, and asking for their names and tribe to repay them in the future, made everyone laugh. Yue Nannan looked at the actions of this big man and chuckled, saying to him, "Don''t be so polite; get up quickly. We still have questions for you." The big man, as honest as he looked, blushed when he saw Yue Nannan, a beauty, smiling at him. He seemed a bit at a loss. In fact, this big man was also very curious about Xiaojie and the others. Except for Zhu Zi, everyone else was too short, looking like they hadn''t grown up yet. But they displayed extraordinary abilities, and their attire was also strange. Master Wang noticed the big man''s confusion and smiled at him, saying, "You don''t need to be puzzled. We are not from your place. We are outsiders who came here for some business. What''s your name? Which tribe are you from? Why did the war break out here?" The big man said, "My name is Zhuanggen, a warrior of the Great Mound Tribe. Our leader is Yan. Because of the constant harassment by the demon Chiyu, the Great Mound Tribe led by Yan and the Merchant Mound Tribe led by Huang have engaged in a fierce struggle with Chiyu''s army. Yesterday evening, the two sides deployed several times as many warriors, and the battle lasted until close to midnight. As a result, the army of Yan and Huang failed to win. All my brothers are dead." Zhuanggen''s voice trembled with pain as tears streamed down his face. The uncontrollable emotional turmoil made Zhuanggen, this big man of over two meters, convulse all over. Master Wang sighed deeply in his heart, thinking: Facing such enemies, just being able to fight them already shows tremendous courage. It''s only natural not to win! Zhu Zi walked up to Zhuanggen, patted his shoulder Chapter 11 Tang Xiaojie stepped onto this land, which was clearly a battlefield that had recently witnessed a fierce battle. Moreover, it was the aftermath of a large-scale army confrontation. Countless corpses of soldiers lay strewn about, blood pooling in the lower parts of the terrain. The scene was filled with dead bodies and weapons, severed limbs, and lingering fires. The overwhelming bloodshed made Tang Xiaojie, who had lived in a civilized world for over twenty years, feel nauseated. Yue Nannan stood frozen, equally stunned by the scene. Zhuzi tried to control his emotions, hoping to use his elder-brotherly calmness to soothe Xiaojie and Nannan''s unease. However, he couldn''t manage it; he was the first to vomit at the sight. At this critical moment, Master Wang displayed the demeanor befitting a Sword Immortal. He patted Zhuzi''s back and said to everyone, "It seems my master deliberately brought us here a few years earlier. This should be the era of the battle between the Emperors Yan and Huang and Chiyou. Perhaps this is what my master meant by letting us see the truth and survive." Hearing this, Zhuzi, still retching, said, "I really don''t understand what the Upper Immortal means! I made it clear to him that we came for the divine weapon, the Extreme Heaven Blade. He sent us to the time of war. How can we get the weapon? If we take it, how can Yan and Huang defeat Chiyou?" Yue Nannan, having calmed herself a bit, said, "Don''t say that. The Upper Immortal must have his reasons for doing this. I trust Master Yuandun; he is the wisest person I respect the most. He wouldn''t do anything wrong." Xiaojie, listening to their conversation, didn''t express any opinion. He thought, "Since we''re already here, we should figure out our current situation and understand the specifics of this era." Master Wang, alert, glanced around and made a "shh" gesture, lowering his voice. "Speak softly. The battlefield is very close. Although the battle here is over, I can still hear the sounds of fighting." Everyone strained their ears to listen carefully. It seemed there were indeed sounds of fighting. By now, Zhuzi had also regained his composure. It wasn''t that he had adapted to the gruesome scene but rather that he had nothing left to vomit; his stomach seemed empty. Zhuzi, gathering his strength, pointed, "There are torch shadows moving over there." It was dark, and being new to this unfamiliar environment, they couldn''t tell directions. The best way to understand their current situation was to find someone to ask. After all, they were all Chinese, and even if there were differences in writing, they should understand the spoken language. The group exchanged glances and moved cautiously towards the battlefield. After walking about a kilometer, they stopped at the edge of a forest. The battlefield was in this forest, and the sounds indicated that the fighting parties were not large. They quietly approached the forest edge and peered in. Two groups, each with around a hundred people, were engaged in a fierce fight. Both groups wore coarse cloth clothes and straw sandals. Their weapons seemed to be made of wrought iron, not sharp but heavy enough. These people were tall, averaging about two meters, with well-built bodies. At first glance, they seemed like Westerners but upon closer look, they weren''t, as both groups had yellow skin. The screams and curses of the wounded confirmed they were definitely Chinese. No wonder many ancient Chinese clothes and fossilized skeletons were found to be very tall. It seemed ancient Chinese were not physically inferior to Europeans; perhaps modern Chinese have degenerated. As the two sides fought evenly, the battlefield changed. From one side of the forest, a large ambush force appeared. This new force was larger than the combined numbers of the current combatants. The leader of this reinforcements was particularly striking: a giant nearly five meters tall, strong and muscular, clad in shiny black steel armor. He had long, curly hair on his back, and a single horn on his forehead, like a rhino''s. He wielded a giant two-handed greatsword. When this monster led his troops into battle, the side that had been fighting immediately turned and fled in terror at the sight of him, shouting, "Run, Chiyou is here!" This monster was indeed the legendary God of War. According to legend, wherever he went, corpses piled up, and he left no life behind. Xiaojie and his companions witnessed this firsthand. As the fleeing soldiers turned to run, Chiyou thrust his sword into the ground and stretched out his arms, palms down. He chanted a rapid incantation, and within two seconds, gates of elemental energy opened from the ground. From these gates emerged countless fire demons that pounced on the fleeing soldiers. In moments, the battlefield turned into a slaughterhouse. With the addition of these demons, no mortals could stand against them. Indeed, wherever the God of War went, no life remained! Several times, Xiaojie wanted to intervene to stop the demons from killing his compatriots or, rather, his ancestors, but Master Wang stopped him each time. Master Wang, being very calm, saw that Chiyou''s ability to summon so many fire demons in just over two seconds meant his elemental powers were on par with Master Yuandun''s. Intervening now would be futile. Moreover, they were from the future; how could they have the right to alter history? In no time, the battlefield returned to its natural quiet. The fire demons knelt before Chiyou, and one of the fire demon leaders said, "Great God, our task is complete." Chiyou glanced at them. "You''ve done well. Take these souls and use their power to help your king achieve liberation soon. Send my regards to him!" The fire demon leader looked up at Chiyou, "Great God, thank you for your generosity. Our king asked me to remind you that the counterattack by the Emperors Yan and Huang is about to begin. They have already obtained the Extreme Heaven Blade." After saying this, the fire demon leader gave a barely noticeable sinister smile. He then ordered his subordinates to collect the souls of the dead and prepare to leave. Chiyou fell into deep thought. From this dialogue, it could be inferred that Chiyou was an ally of the fire demon king, Lujifuer. It seemed the demons from the four-dimensional space hell also feared this so-called God of War. Who knows what will happen next? Clearly, many events are not recorded in historical documents and couldn''t be. These details might be known to wise men like Master Yuandun. There must be some important events, and perhaps clues here might help in the future battle against Lujifuer. The fire demons finished collecting the souls and opened several elemental gates to leave. Chiyou looked at the now-quiet battlefield and let out a roar that shook the heavens, "What is the Extreme Heaven Blade?! In Xingtian''s hands, it had the power to kill the Heavenly Emperor. But in Yan and Huang''s hands, how powerful can it be?! Do they think I will fear them? I will kill anyone who dares oppose me, and I will make all living beings live under my rule. Hahaha!" After the earth-shaking roar, all surviving soldiers knelt at Chiyou''s feet, bowing their heads to his power and majesty. After his roar, Chiyou emitted waves of dark smoke that enveloped him and his soldiers. When the smoke cleared, they had all vanished from the battlefield. Master Wang was left stunned, his mouth agape. Yue Nannan exclaimed, "Incredible! To transfer hundreds of people simultaneously using the teleportation shield technique. His elemental power and technique are at an unprecedented level!" Zhuzi added, "And not just that. His casting speed is astonishing. I really wonder how Yan and Huang managed to defeat him." Tang Xiaojie, seeing his companions in shock, asked, "What should we do next? If we continue like this, we won''t find any clues." Master Wang snapped out of his shock, "This is unbelievable. Xiaojie, since you appeared, I''ve been constantly shocked. I thought you were the most extraordinary being I''ve ever seen, but seeing Chiyou, I realize anything is possible in this world. His displayed strength might even surpass my master''s." Xiaojie, unfazed, looked at Master Wang and said, "So what should we do now? What''s the plan?" "Let''s go back to the battlefield we came from and see if there are any survivors. We can only continue if we find someone alive to explain the situation." Master Wang then sought everyone''s opinion. Zhuzi said, "No need for more discussion. Let''s follow Master''s suggestion and go check. There''s no one alive here; the demons took all the souls. The previous battlefield is our only hope." With that, Zhuzi started walking back. As the saying goes, "Heaven helps those who help themselves." In their diligent search, they indeed found a wounded but not dead survivor. Though weak, he was not in life-threatening danger. With both Master Wang and Xiaojie using healing spells, the injured man soon regained his ability to move. Once this man recovered, his behavior surprised everyone again. They had assumed that people from over four thousand years ago would be savage and uncivilized. They didn''t expect this man''s conduct to upend all their preconceived notions. This man, over two meters tall, was very sturdy with a simple and honest appearance. He had a half-inch scar on his left cheek. As soon as he recovered, he knelt before Xiaojie and Master Wang, bowing deeply to express his immense gratitude and asking for their names and tribes to repay their kindness someday. Yue Nannan, amused by the man''s actions, burst into laughter and said, "No need to be so polite. Get up. We have some questions for you." This man, as honest as he appeared, blushed when faced with the beautiful Yue Nannan and seemed a bit at a loss. In fact, he was also curious about Xiaojie and the others. Aside from Zhuzi, the rest were much shorter, almost like children. However, their abilities were extraordinary, and their attire was even more peculiar. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Master Wang, noticing the man''s confusion, smiled at him, "Don''t be puzzled. We''re not from around here. We came to handle some matters. What''s your name? Which tribe are you from? Why did this war break out?" The man replied, "My name is Zhuang Gen, a warrior from the Daqiu tribe. Our leader is Yan. Because of Chiyou''s constant harassment, Yan led the Daqiu tribe and Huang led the Shangqiu tribe to fight Chiyou''s army. Last evening, both sides invested tens of thousands of warriors in a battle that lasted until nearly midnight. Yet, the forces of Emperors Yan and Huang still couldn''t win. All my brothers died." Saying this, Zhuang Gen wept, his emotions overwhelming him, making his robust body shake uncontrollably. Master Wang sighed deeply, thinking to himself, "Facing such an enemy and being able to stand against them is already a great show of courage. It''s understandable if they can''t win." Zhuzi walked over to Zhuang Gen and patted the big man''s shoulder, "Remember, as long as your spirit doesn''t waver, ultimate victory will surely belong to you!" The big man turned his head and saw the resolute look in Zhuzi''s eyes, seemingly regaining his confidence and courage. He nodded vigorously and said, "Yes, we will win. We still have warriors, and we still have the great leaders Yan and Huang. Yan and Huang have already found the Extreme Heaven Blade. We will be victorious." Suddenly, Zhuang Gen looked at Zhuzi and his companions with a changed expression, one filled with indescribable happiness and excitement. He trembled as he grabbed Zhuzi''s hands, which were still stained with blood. Looking at Zhuzi and the others, he said, "Join us! Help us defeat Chiyou and his army. Our great shaman once prophesied that four mysterious visitors would come and use their great powers to help us achieve victory. It must be you. You used god-like abilities to heal me and give me new life. Please, help us end these days of suffering!" Master Wang said, "I''m sorry, you wouldn''t understand. We cannot participate in your war. There are some things that I can''t explain to you, but we cannot agree to your request." As soon as Master Wang finished speaking, a dissenting voice came over immediately: "Master, I don''t agree with you. Maybe our arrival in this era is a reoccurrence of true history. Who can guarantee that the war back then didn''t involve four people from the future who came to the past and ultimately influenced the course of the war?" Zhuzi was clearly moved by Zhuang Gen''s earnestness. "I agree with Zhuzi," said Xiaojie. "I agree too," said Yue Nannan. Xiaojie and Nannan exchanged a smile. There seemed to be a special understanding between the two. Master Wang said helplessly, "Alright, alright! You are all heroes. Fine, let''s do it. We''ll fight Chiyou together!" The happiest person was undoubtedly Zhuang Gen. At dawn, Xiaojie and the others followed Zhuang Gen to the Daqiu tribe. The Daqiu tribe was built along a mountain and occupied a very large area. It was hard to gauge the exact size just by looking. Surrounding the tribe were continuous wooden walls, and there were a few scattered towers within. There was only one entrance to the tribe, guarded by strong warriors patrolling inside and outside, creating a grand and united scene. On the way, through Zhuang Gen''s explanation and calculations, Xiaojie and the others fully understood that Master Yuandun had indeed not sent them to the peaceful era 4,400 years ago, after the Yan and Huang Emperors defeated Chiyou. They were now in the crucial period of the decisive battle between Yan, Huang, and Chiyou 4,600 years ago. Chiyou was originally a minister under the Yan Emperor. To dominate the world, he allied with the Miao clan, drove the Yan Emperor from the south to Zhuolu, and proclaimed himself the Emperor of the South. He was an ambitious man. During the great war, Chiyou stood alone at the pass, commanding his troops like a swarm of bees attacking the Yan Emperor''s camp. While resisting, the Yan Emperor led his men to retreat hastily through the rain of arrows. After joining forces with the Huang Emperor, the Yan Emperor reported the battle situation: Chiyou had invaded our land and was advancing towards Zhuolu, violating our borders. So the Huang Emperor ordered the troops to regroup, and the two armies fought Chiyou''s forces again. Everyone thought that if they worked together, they could defeat Chiyou. However, Chiyou used his sorcery, and a thick fog suddenly rose, making it impossible to see. The army fell into chaos, and the Yan and Huang armies were forced to retreat! Moreover, Chiyou often summoned unknown creatures from other realms to fight alongside him. The battlefield was filled with tension, with both armies desperately fighting, but in the end, the Yan and Huang armies couldn''t withstand Chiyou''s assault and retreated in disarray. The Huang Emperor, determined not to let the people suffer, sent envoys to negotiate with Chiyou several times, but the valiant Chiyou remained unyielding, and no consensus was reached. The Huang Emperor decided to make a final stand, strategizing with the Yan Emperor and the divine woman Jiutian Xuann¨¹. The great war had lasted for decades. The Huang Emperor had a wise advisor named Fenghou, who invented a chariot that could navigate through the fog, stabilizing the war situation. However, despite their efforts, the Yan and Huang Emperors couldn''t achieve a decisive victory against Chiyou. Jiutian Xuann¨¹, through divination, discovered the location of the divine weapon, the Extreme Heaven Blade, used by the god Xing Tian when he slew the Heavenly Emperor. They endured countless hardships to obtain this divine weapon and awakened its sealed power with the blood of the Yan and Huang Emperors. However, there was still an important condition needed to defeat Chiyou: the prophesied four outsiders who possessed unknown powers and wisdom. Among them, a hero would emerge to wield the Extreme Heaven Blade and help humanity eliminate the god Chiyou. It seemed that a higher power governed the cycles of fate. From this, it was clear that although the Yan and Huang Emperors found and awakened the power of the Extreme Heaven Blade, they couldn''t use it. Was this the true history? If so, perhaps our arrival isn''t because we need to find the divine weapon, but because the divine weapon is seeking us. Xiaojie mused to himself, and Master Wang and the others had similar thoughts. Under Zhuang Gen''s guidance, after several reports, they finally met the Yan and Huang Emperors. Currently, this tribe was lent to the Yan Emperor by the Huang Emperor, as the Yan Emperor''s land had been entirely occupied by Chiyou. The Yan and Huang Emperors spent their days studying the war situation and planning how to counterattack Chiyou. They didn''t have the airs of monarchs and were quite amiable, but their faces bore an unmistakable authority. Both emperors were over 2.5 meters tall, with exceptionally robust physiques. Beside the Yan and Huang Emperors was a beautiful young woman, who must be the legendary Jiutian Xuann¨¹. She was a legendary figure, and even as a woman, her height rivaled that of Zhuzi, resembling a main player on a women''s basketball team. In the large tent of the Yan and Huang Emperors, they sat as hosts and guests, and the Yan Emperor eagerly and excitedly inquired about Xiaojie and the others'' origins and identities. He praised their miraculous ability to easily heal Zhuang Gen''s injuries. Since everyone had decided to participate in the course of history, Master Wang didn''t hide their identities. He also displayed their abilities. The Yan and Huang Emperors and Jiutian Xuann¨¹ were speechless after hearing Master Wang''s brief account. It was a mix of shock, doubt, and fear, but mostly joy. They learned from these four people from the future that the final victory would belong to Yan and Huang. Future generations would refer to themselves as descendants of Yan and Huang. The efficiency of ancient people was undeniable. After a morning of discussion, both sides reached a consensus to have a decisive battle with Chiyou the next day. If they succeeded in eliminating Chiyou, they would give the Extreme Heaven Blade to Xiaojie and the others to take to the future to solve their problems. But the condition was that one of the four must be able to wield the Extreme Heaven Blade. The blade was a divine weapon from the celestial realm, and ordinary elemental power couldn''t control or use it. After individual assessments, this sacred task fell to Tang Xiaojie. Only Xiaojie''s five-dimensional being and immense elemental power could wield this powerful divine weapon. The Extreme Heaven Blade was actually a short sword, though legend had it as a long axe. When Xing Tian slew the Heavenly Emperor, it was stained with the Heavenly Emperor''s blood, mysteriously altering its form. Although it was a short sword, in Xiaojie''s hands, it was like a two-handed greatsword, because the stature of ancient people was extraordinarily tall. What was a short sword to them was a greatsword to modern humans. Since Zhuang Gen and Xiaojie and the others had been busy all night, they were arranged to have a meal and then rest. In the evening, Jiutian Xuann¨¹ would hold a ceremony to pray to heaven and divine the best date for the decisive battle with Chiyou. Xiaojie, being energetic and easily not feeling tired, was particularly excited about being in this new world and preparing to participate in a historical battle from 4,600 years ago. He had no intention of resting. So, he stayed with the Yan and Huang Emperors and Jiutian Xuann¨¹ to study the battle situation. Although he knew nothing about large-scale warfare, listening was quite enlightening. Soon, the sky darkened again. After dinner, around eight in the evening, Jiutian Xuann¨¹ began her ceremony to divine. Xiaojie wanted to watch the whole process, but his curiosity wasn''t satisfied. Jiutian Xuann¨¹''s ritual had to be conducted in complete nudity after bathing and dressing in new clothes. It was said to be a way to touch the heavens with the purest body and mind. Not only was Xiaojie not allowed to watch, but no male was allowed to be present except for two female shamans. So, Xiaojie could only wait outside the altar with the Yan and Huang Emperors, feeling the cold northwest wind. While waiting outside, Xiaojie learned something else from the Huang Emperor. Chiyou also had allies in his battles. His ally was a giant tribe, said to be direct descendants of the Earth Mother Nuwa. Their leader was Kua Fu, a powerful figure whose height was comparable to Chiyou''s, a formidable opponent that anyone would find daunting. In several encounters, only the joint forces of the Yan and Huang Emperors could match this warrior. Others facing Kua Fu had no chance of survival. This was one of the reasons why the Yan and Huang Emperors couldn''t achieve victory. One Kua Fu alone was enough to challenge the Yan and Huang Emperors, and with the even stronger Chiyou, it was a significant test of their capabilities. The fact that the Yan and Huang Emperors didn''t retreat and fought against such enemies for so many years showed their exceptional leadership. In his heart, Xiaojie truly admired them; these were real leaders! About an hour later, the ceremony ended silently. Jiutian Xuann¨¹ and her two assistants emerged from the altar, smiling and inviting the Yan and Huang Emperors and Xiaojie back to the main tent. At this moment, Xiaojie still had the presence of mind to glance at Jiutian Xuann¨¹, thinking about what it would be like if this tall beauty walked out naked! Back in the main tent with the Yan and Huang Emperors and Jiutian Xuann¨¹, Master Wang, Yue Nannan, and Zhuzi, accompanied by Zhuang Gen, also arrived. Fenghou, the top strategist under the Yan and Huang Emperors, also arrived, evidently informed to hear the results of the divination. Jiutian Xuann¨¹ looked at everyone and said, "You''ve all been waiting. The ceremony was very successful. Heaven has given clear instructions: Xuanyuan will align his virtues and soldiers, following the will of heaven. The position of Di Sha will bring wind at noon, and we will pacify the world! The decisive battle will be at Zhuolu." This clearly indicated that Xuanyuan referred to the Huang Emperor, whose virtuous actions were approved by heaven. According to the 72 positions of Di Sha, the battle should take place three days later. At noon on the third day, there would be strong winds, indicating the time to pacify the world had come. The battle location was a small plain thirty miles away at Zhuolu. At this moment, everyone in the tent was filled with joy. Only the Yan Emperor, amidst his happiness, showed a hint of an indescribable expression. The Huang Emperor glanced at the Yan Emperor and Jiutian Xuann¨¹ and said, "The time for our counterattack has finally come." The Yan Emperor and Jiutian Xuann¨¹ nodded firmly. The Huang Emperor looked around at everyone in the tent and said, "Everyone, go and rest. Tomorrow, we will mobilize the troops and head to Zhuolu for a decisive battle with Chiyou!" Chapter 12 As dawn broke the next day, ten senior generals led by Feng Hou arrived early at the main tent. The morning sun was soft and gentle, and Xiao Jie and his companions thought they had risen quite early. However, when they reached the tent, they found that Emperors Yan and Huang, as well as the Nine Heavens Goddess, were already there, seemingly having finished the pre-battle briefing. Inside the tent, all the generals looked spirited and full of energy. When Xiao Jie and his three companions entered, a wave of skeptical gazes fell upon them, making Xiao Jie, the focal point, feel rather uncomfortable. This reaction was understandable; from a visual perspective, their height didn¡¯t suggest they were formidable warriors. Even the tallest among them, Dong Yuanzhu, was considered somewhat disabled by ancient standards. Emperor Yan seemed to notice the generals'' expressions and, without needing to explain much, ordered the extreme weapon, Jitian Blade, to be brought out. In front of everyone, Xiao Jie lifted the weapon and performed a set of Xuanmen sword techniques he had recently learned. The generals'' expressions changed as they watched. To show off the power of his sword skills, Xiao Jie ended his performance with a demonstration of his sword energy. As he finished, he aimed his sword finger at a weapon rack by the tent¡¯s entrance. A streak of sword energy shot out, piercing through ten bronze swords on the rack and leaving a not-so-aesthetic round hole in each. The sword energy was so powerful that it continued through the swords, creating a hole in the tent''s leather wall before dissipating. The air inside the tent became heavy. These ancient warriors, apart from having seen the magical and fighting abilities of Emperors Yan and Huang, had never witnessed such prowess, especially from someone who appeared to be a young boy. Emperor Huang smiled at the scene and addressed the generals, saying, "Do not judge a person¡¯s strength by their appearance. Remember, anyone who steps onto the battlefield is not to be underestimated. Otherwise, you might pay with your life for this lesson." All the generals lowered their proud heads. Emperor Huang, as the chief commander, then began to assign battle tasks: - Feng Hou was appointed as the general with three commanders leading 200,000 troops as the central force, aiming to engage the enemy''s main force. - The Chieftain of the Highland Tribe, along with three commanders and 200,000 troops, would serve as the vanguard. They must annihilate small enemy groups and lure the main force to the central army for a decisive battle. - Four other commanders were assigned 120,000 troops each as reserves, to act on orders from the rear. - Two female shamans under the Nine Heavens Goddess were in charge of logistics with 20,000 troops. - Several elderly chieftains of small tribes were to defend the rear with 50,000 troops. - Emperor Huang, Tang Xiao Jie, Yue Nannan, and Dong Yuanzhu would lead 5,000 troops to directly confront Chi You. - Emperor Yan, the Nine Heavens Goddess, and Wang Yong (Master Wang) would lead 5,000 troops to directly confront Kua Fu. Emperor Yan added that scouts reported Chi You¡¯s army advancing towards them and expected to pass through Zhuolu in three days. This indicated that everything was unfolding as destiny had arranged. The army would march 15 miles daily, reaching the battlefield in two days, allowing a night and half a day for rest, giving them an advantage. It seemed all favorable factors were leaning towards Emperors Yan and Huang. The total Huang-Yan army numbered 600,000. With 50,000 left to defend the rear and 20,000 for logistics, 530,000 were committed to the battle against Chi You. The resolve for a decisive battle was beyond words. After the orders were issued, the entire army prepared their meals. They had a quarter-hour to eat before the vanguard moved out, followed by the central army and the reserves, aiming for Zhuolu Plain, 30 miles away. Two days later, the army reached the designated battlefield. The soldiers dug traps, set up wooden barriers, and made all necessary preparations, with many ambush troops hiding in dense forests. Xiao Jie felt both excited and nervous, facing such a war scene for the first time. Trusting the older generation in times of tension, he glanced towards Master Wang, but they were too far apart to see clearly. Dong Yuanzhu noticed Xiao Jie¡¯s mood and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. If we fail to destroy Lu Jifu¡¯er, once it adapts to our world, it will unleash all demons upon us. This scene is better than facing that, right?¡± Xiao Jie looked at Dong Yuanzhu¡¯s serious expression and suddenly remembered how he had vomited at the sight of corpses when they first arrived. He wanted to laugh but held it in, replying, ¡°Yes, I know.¡± A long night passed. At dawn, a scout hurriedly reported to Emperor Huang, ¡°Chief, Chi You¡¯s 500,000-strong army is less than 20 miles away and will engage our vanguard in about two hours. Please give your orders.¡± Emperor Huang frowned slightly, ¡°They¡¯re two hours earlier than expected. No matter, we¡¯re ready. Inform the vanguard to hide and strike fiercely at the enemy¡¯s front when they enter our range, then retreat to the central army.¡± ¡°Yes, Chief!¡± The scout left the tent. Emperor Huang then told his guard, ¡°Report the situation to Emperor Yan and tell him to meet at the observation point outside the tent.¡± The guard complied and left. Emperor Huang turned to Xiao Jie, ¡°Are you ready? You don¡¯t have to join this battle. You can leave anytime, but if you stay, you must fight alongside me to the end.¡± ¡°Are you ready?¡± This question echoed in Xiao Jie¡¯s ears, having been asked by his mentor before he became a mission bearer, by the old Daoist after he became one, and now by the ancestor of the Chinese people, Emperor Huang. Xiao Jie looked at Emperor Huang, his eyes burning with determination. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± he replied firmly, feeling Yue Nannan¡¯s gaze upon him. Emperor Huang said, ¡°Then let¡¯s go to the observation point and prepare for battle.¡± He stood up and walked out of the tent with his guards, instructing the soldiers to prepare for battle. Soon, Emperor Yan, the Nine Heavens Goddess, and others arrived at the observation point. Today, Emperors Yan and Huang wore bronze armor, making them look particularly tall and imposing. The Nine Heavens Goddess donned a battle robe imbued with elemental power, truly a heroine among women. Using his far-sight ability, Xiao Jie reported, ¡°The enemy¡¯s morale is high, and their formation is orderly. However, they are overly arrogant. They have no reserves or logistics teams, only the vanguard and main force. Do they always fight like this?!¡± Emperor Yan replied, ¡°Victory has made them arrogant. Today, they will pay in blood!¡± ¡°The battle has started, the vanguard has engaged,¡± Xiaojie reported excitedly. ¡°Our warriors are very brave, and the enemy is strong too. Their weapons seem to be better equipped than ours; our soldiers don¡¯t all have metal gear, but the enemy is fully equipped with bronze weapons. Yet, we still have the upper hand. Damn, it¡¯s so bloody.¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The rousing report made even the Yan Emperor and the Yellow Emperor feel a rush of adrenaline, eager to join the fray. But the Nine Heavens Goddess, with her characteristic feminine meticulousness, reminded them, ¡°Don¡¯t forget your assigned tasks for today¡¯s decisive battle. Don¡¯t let the heat of the moment cloud your judgment.¡± Her calmness often earned the Yellow Emperor¡¯s admiration. The vanguard''s battle lasted less than half an hour before Chiyou''s front-line troops, having taken a fierce beating, began to retreat in an organized manner, preparing to counterattack. According to pre-battle instructions, the Highland Tribe''s leader led his main force in retreat towards the battlefield¡¯s central area. At this moment, the Yellow Emperor ordered the central army to advance. Twenty thousand troops surged forward like a massive wave, causing the ground to tremble and dust to fill the air. The combined sounds of marching feet and neighing warhorses echoed all around. Xiaojie and the others had never witnessed such a spectacle before and were momentarily swept up in the fervor, forgetting their origins and focusing solely on the task of fighting the enemy. Even Master Wang had immersed himself fully in the role of a warrior, his expression as intense as a hunting lion. In just fifteen minutes, the vanguard had fallen back to their ideal position and quickly formed a battle formation. The twenty thousand vanguard troops and the twenty thousand central troops were about one li apart. The enemy¡¯s approach, accompanied by swirling dust, could be heard across the land. Everyone had one belief in their hearts¡ªdecisive battle! After another fifteen minutes, Chiyou¡¯s army halted two hundred meters from the vanguard. In this era, without widespread use of effective long-range weapons like bows and arrows, a two hundred meter distance was a very reasonable offensive and defensive range, minimizing the enemy''s charging time. ¡°Xiaojie, see if there are any giants among the enemy,¡± the Yellow Emperor calmly instructed. ¡°Yes, there are many giants, all over four meters tall, wielding clubs. They¡¯re mixed in with the regular soldiers, so it¡¯s hard to tell exactly how many,¡± Xiaojie reported, his ability acting like a military telescope. ¡°Look closely for Chiyou and Kuafu,¡± the Yan Emperor urged impatiently. Xiaojie scanned carefully. ¡°I see a very formidable giant, about the same height as Chiyou; it could be Kuafu. He¡¯s carrying two huge bronze axes.¡± The Yan Emperor and the Nine Heavens Goddess exchanged a look. The Yan Emperor said, ¡°Our target has appeared. We must act together and not leave any survivors.¡± The Nine Heavens Goddess added, ¡°Right, if we both go up against him, we might only end in a draw, but with Master Wang joining us, we¡¯re guaranteed victory. We can¡¯t give the enemy any breathing room.¡± Master Wang, hearing this, felt a bit elated. It seems any man enjoys being praised by a beautiful woman. The Yellow Emperor asked Xiaojie, ¡°Has Chiyou appeared yet?¡± Xiaojie replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him yet. I don¡¯t know where he¡¯s hiding.¡± The Yellow Emperor glanced at the Yan Emperor. ¡°Chiyou is notoriously cunning. We can¡¯t predict when and where he might appear. Remember to stick to the plan. Even if Chiyou suddenly appears near us, we¡¯ll handle it. Your target is Kuafu. Leave everything else to General Fenghou.¡± The Yan Emperor and the others nodded resolutely. The Nine Heavens Goddess looked at the Yellow Emperor, saying, ¡°Be careful.¡± The Yellow Emperor looked at her and replied, ¡°You too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s starting. The enemy is charging. Our troops are meeting them head-on,¡± Xiaojie shouted excitedly. At this point, everyone could see the unfolding battle clearly. The clash of tens of thousands of soldiers was accompanied by shouts and the sound of weapons colliding, creating an epic symphony of war. In this era of cold weapons, the front lines saw warriors colliding in waves, with vibrant lives turning into corpses in an instant. The front line of the battlefield was a mix of dust and blood, with screams, shouts, and the clash of weapons echoing. With Xiaojie and the others¡¯ presence hinting at a foretold victory, Yan and Huang¡¯s warriors had never felt such a surge of battle spirit. Within ten minutes of the battle¡¯s start, they had gained the upper hand. Some enemies, after being stabbed in the chest, screamed without even seeing who had struck them, their legs then cut off, leaving them to fall helplessly on the battlefield. This fearless spirit seemed to infect the enemy, prompting their supreme commander, Kuafu, to order the giants mixed within their ranks to charge. In an instant, nearly fifty thousand warriors, all over four meters tall, surged to the front lines. These giants, wielding thick wooden clubs over two and a half meters long, turned the tide of battle as soon as they joined the fray. Though Yan and Huang¡¯s men fought valiantly, the difference in combat power was insurmountable. Where the Huang forces had initially pushed the enemy back twenty meters, the giants¡¯ entry not only reclaimed that ground but pushed the battle line twenty meters into Huang¡¯s territory, creating a forty-meter-wide strip of blood-soaked land several kilometers long. Hearing the sounds of bones breaking and limbs being torn apart by the giants¡¯ clubs, Xiaojie marveled at the brutality of it all. As the giants fully engaged, the battle line shifted again, despite Yan and Huang¡¯s fearless warriors. Huang¡¯s initial advantage had been lost, the giants¡¯ overwhelming power pushing them back. At this point, the Nine Heavens Goddess instructed a fellow clan member, ¡°Sound the drums.¡± The clan member complied, pulling a horn from her waist and blowing it, producing a sound like the roar of a charging bull. Following this signal, twenty massive war drums were wheeled out from a makeshift camp in the rear, each manned by a team of ten. They skillfully set up the drums and began to beat them rhythmically with bone drumsticks, producing a thunderous sound that seemed to echo across the battlefield, as if the god of thunder himself had arrived. The enemy¡¯s giants appeared paralyzed with fear, their movements sluggish and expressions pained. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Xiaojie wondered aloud. The Nine Heavens Goddess explained, ¡°It¡¯s said that the giant tribe once helped Nuwa repair the heavens, often getting struck by lightning in the process. They¡¯ve passed down a genetic fear of thunder. These twenty drums are made from dragonhide, and the drumsticks from dragon bones. When struck, they produce a sound that mimics thunder, specifically to counter the giants.¡± Xiaojie was awestruck by this revelation. He had encountered so many strange things recently that he was becoming numb to them, but the idea of using dragonhide and dragon bones as battlefield tools was almost too much to take in. He decided not to question where the dragon materials came from, not wanting to be further shocked. Meanwhile, in the dense forests flanking the plain, Yan and Huang¡¯s hidden soldiers launched a flank attack in response to the drums. The enemy¡¯s giant troops were caught off guard, unable to retaliate effectively, and were trapped in the bloody strip, unable to escape. In twenty minutes, nearly half of the five thousand giants were dead or wounded. Within the first hour of the battle, Chiyou¡¯s army had suffered tremendous losses. Their supreme commander, Kuafu, could no longer maintain his composure. Perhaps due to the heavy losses among his direct subordinates, the giant warriors, he raised his twin axes and roared, ¡°Full charge! Kill them all, leave no one alive!¡± With that, he personally led the charge to the front lines. This irrational move triggered the full-scale battle earlier than expected. Fifty thousand soldiers surged towards Yan and Huang¡¯s forces. The Yan Emperor and the Yellow Emperor exchanged glances. The Yan Emperor said to General Fenghou, ¡°It¡¯s up to you now, our great general.¡± Fenghou nodded firmly. ¡°Decades of humiliation will be washed away today.¡± With Fenghou¡¯s command, Yan and Huang¡¯s troops charged towards the central battlefield, even the reserves flanking the enemy forces. The clash of iron and blood, courage and willpower, began in earnest. The battle lasted from early morning until noon the next day. With nearly a million soldiers involved, even if one side stood still, it would take time to cut them all down. Over a day and a night, Chiyou himself had yet to appear, so Yan and Huang¡¯s forces had not dared to join the fray directly. Though Kuafu had led the charge, he had stopped short of the front lines to observe the battle. Now, sensing an unprecedented unease, Kuafu felt the situation was slipping beyond recovery. Despite their initial advantage, Chiyou¡¯s troops were exhausted from their forced march to the battlefield, while Yan and Huang¡¯s forces were well-rested and prepared. The traps and obstacles had taken a heavy toll on Chiyou¡¯s advancing soldiers. Kuafu, unable to bear it any longer, cried out, ¡°Lord Chiyou, if you don¡¯t intervene now, the battle will be lost!¡± In response, thick black smoke billowed from the battlefield¡¯s center, dispersing to reveal Chiyou floating in midair. He had hidden among his troops, waiting to see what tricks Chapter 13 The belated arrival of the east wind should be seen as the will of heaven, heralding the downfall of Chiyou. The million-strong armies continue their fierce battle on the ground, although a third of the soldiers from both sides have already perished. Yet, the momentum of slaughter shows no sign of weakening. The forces of Yan and Huang are positioned to the southeast, driving their assault even more fiercely with the aid of the wind. Conversely, Chiyou''s soldiers are immediately affected by the adverse conditions of the sandstorm, evident in the fatigue plaguing them. Some unlucky souls even find themselves blinded by the swirling sands in the midst of battle. The situation has now fully unfolded in the direction recorded in the annals of history. The showdown in the sky between the two sides, deciding victory in battle and the course of history, has begun. Fu Xi, observing the ground, finds his own forces in a desperate passive situation without the assistance of the Angels of Fire. This is a scenario he had never envisioned. What surprises him even more is that the three individuals surrounding him are the first to launch an attack. The Flame Emperor brandishes his heavy sword, thrusting directly at Fu Xi''s chest, while at the same time, the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, wielding twin swords, sweeps low to strike at Fu Xi''s legs. Although Wang Dashi lacks a weapon, he is the most dangerous among the three. With palms as swords, he conjures elemental swords measuring about two meters in length each. Raising himself to a height above Fu Xi''s head, he strikes with both swords aimed at Fu Xi''s skull. In terms of combat prowess, Fu Xi, the chief of the giant clan, is truly formidable. Despite the simultaneous attacks from the three, Fu Xi skillfully parries their assaults, despite their mismatched agility and dexterity with his colossal frame. However, Fu Xi''s ominous premonition becomes more pronounced. He distinctly feels that the opponents'' aura is stronger than in any previous battle, with multiple mysterious strongmen among them. Yet, as a powerful warrior accustomed to victories, Fu Xi cannot easily give up resistance. Though the hope of winning is slim, Fu Xi engages in a desperate counterattack, making it difficult for any opponent to gain an advantage easily. Waves of aura, like mountains, envelop Fu Xi as he unleashes a beastly counterattack. Leveraging his height and long arms, he forces the Flame Emperor and the others into a difficult situation. The two sides engage in an evenly matched aerial battle, circling each other. Meanwhile, Chiyou is also embroiled in a fierce struggle. The heavy sword in the hands of the Yellow Emperor is indeed formidable, a testament to the renowned martial prowess of Xuanyuan Shi. Pillar''s combat abilities are evidently the weakest among the four, yet he is a very meticulous and cunning individual. Keeping a certain distance, Pillar utilizes magic to launch attacks. As long as Chiyou and the other three do not overlap in position, he immediately responds with spells like Thunderbolt and Hand of Lightning. Apart from the Yellow Emperor and Pillar, Yue Nannan is undoubtedly a deadly figure. Despite her gentle appearance, her combat skills, coupled with the use of elemental powers, surpass even that of a Sword Immortal. If that were the extent of it, Chiyou wouldn''t be concerned. As the titled God of War, Chiyou''s displayed abilities are incomparable to Fu Xi''s. Even the chief commanders of the Devils from the Fire Angels bow in reverence upon seeing Chiyou. It''s like daydreaming to think one can make a demon from hell bow without sufficient strength! Yet, Chiyou has achieved it, proving his immense strength. However, today this powerful figure, even the demons bow to, encounters calamity because among his opponents is a versatile new-generation powerhouse, Tang Xiaojie, wielding the divine weapon Extreme Heaven Blade. With the domineering power of the Extreme Heaven Blade, Tang Xiaojie is capable of single-handedly restraining Chiyou, combined with the participation of the Yellow Emperor and Yue Nannan, two formidable experts, in the group fight. This makes Chiyou, for the first time in his life, feel the need to exert all his strength to cope. Despite his pride and arrogance, Chiyou shows no obvious disadvantage even when facing such opponents. What infuriates him the most is Pillar''s guerrilla warfare. In Chiyou''s eyes, Pillar''s abilities are evidently inferior to the three he is engaged with, yet his opportunistic tactics constantly distract him, preventing him from fully concentrating and unleashing his full potential. As a seasoned God of War, Chiyou seeks opportunities in battle, seeing no unbeatable opponents. Even if his opponents are a combination of fighters; Two more hours have passed, and the entire battlefield begins to change. Chiyou''s forces on the ground gradually give up resistance. Many warriors are exhausted, others are demoralized, and some old warriors realize that their army has been completely surrounded by the enemy. Those who are still making symbolic resistance do so because they see their king still undefeated in the sky. They still have hope, or perhaps they fear that if they give up resistance, once their king achieves victory, they will face an even more dismal outcome than defeat. In the air, Fu Xi unleashes his ultimate combat technique, the Godly Axe Possession Technique. In this move, Fu Xi channels his elemental power from each hand into his axes, then sends the axes flying out and controls them telekinetically to automatically attack the enemy. The flying axes move like phantoms in the air, with cunning angles of attack and incredible speed, causing significant trouble for the Flame Emperor and the others. One flying axe attacks head-on towards the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, who manages to evade the attack by leaning back in mid-air, but as soon as she straightens up, the flying axe circles back from behind and aims for her back. At the same time, the Grandmaster unleashes a sword strike to deflect the flying axe aimed at the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden''s back. Another flying axe, deflected by the Grandmaster, then attacks the Flame Emperor from below. The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, seeing this, throws her precious sword into the air to intercept the flying axe aimed at the Flame Emperor''s legs, diverting its path. Yet another flying axe, redirected downwards, now aims for the Grandmaster. In a moment of chaos, the three individuals find themselves scrambling to deal with the flying axes. However, Fu Xi''s control over the axes, which requires his focused mental concentration, leaves him unable to participate in direct combat. From an effectiveness standpoint, the flying axes clearly have the upper hand. However, in doing so, Fu Xi, like a computer operating a command device, loses not only his attacking power but also significantly reduces his defensive capabilities. Seizing the opportunity when the flying axe aimed at his legs closes in, the Grandmaster wastes no time and flies towards Fu Xi at full speed. As he approaches within three meters of Fu Xi, the Grandmaster executes a sharp turn, transitioning from facing Fu Xi head-on to facing him sideways. At the same time, the Grandmaster extends his hands, conjuring two powerful beams of fifth-level aura, one aimed at Fu Xi''s abdomen and the other at the flying axe closing in. The destructive power of fifth-level aura beams is such that no creature can withstand a direct impact. Fu Xi, seeing the beams of aura Perhaps it was seeing Master Wang arrive just in time that made Xiao Jie a bit excited. He wielded the Extreme Heaven Blade and unleashed six sword qi attacks straight at Chi You. Xiao Jie''s own strength allowed him to instantly cast third-level sword qi, but with the enhancement of the Extreme Heaven Blade, each sword qi had the power of a fifth-level attack. Even the mighty Chi You did not dare to take them head-on. Tang Xiaojie was the only person on the battlefield that Chi You truly dreaded. However, the frenzied Chi You would not retreat in the face of any enemy. He swung his heavy sword, sending out six elemental spirit snakes to forcibly clash with the six fifth-level sword qi. Yue Nannan gathered her strength and cast a Holy Light of Exorcism towards Chi You. Chi You, with no way to dodge, extended his right hand and released a Cross Firework from his palm to block the Holy Light of Exorcism. Immediately after, the Yellow Emperor rose and struck downward with a heavy sword aimed at Chi You''s head. Chi You tilted his head, using the horn on his forehead to deflect the heavy sword. Just as Chi You caught his breath, two beams of battle qi shot from Master Wang''s eyes¡ªthis was the most concealed skill among the Sword Immortal''s battle qi abilities, the Sky Light Battle Shot. To say Chi You truly deserved the title of War God, he could still react to this sudden Sky Light Battle Shot. He held his heavy sword horizontally in front of him, one hand gripping the hilt while the other pushed against the blade, using it as a shield to block the Sky Light Battle Shot. Just as Chi You was about to counterattack, Xiao Jie started his assault again, repeating the previous attack. The same offensive cycle repeated once more. Chi You was incredibly formidable; even under the combined strong attacks of everyone, he managed to hold his ground. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. No one knew how long the battle on the ground had raged, but the sounds of slaughter were growing fainter. The entire land of Zhuolu was stained with blood. The Yanhuang army had firmly secured victory. Of Chi You''s forces, apart from the fallen soldiers, two-thirds of the survivors had surrendered. Only less than eighty thousand remained, fighting and fleeing simultaneously, no longer caring that their king was still besieged by powerful enemies. The sky gradually darkened. The magical volleys in the sky became the Yanhuang army''s premature celebration of their victory, like a fireworks display. The proud Chi You reluctantly accepted the fate of defeat. However, he would not surrender. He conceived a plan to escape the battlefield with his subordinates. If he could shake off those entangling him and return to his remaining troops, he could use the Qingyan Circulation Method to lead a group of soldiers to escape instantly, leaving him a chance to return stronger. Having made up his mind, Chi You took a hit from Master Wang''s Palm Thunder, then grasped his sword with both hands and swung it forcefully. A roll of thunder sounded, and light waves appeared in the air. After the light waves trembled, dozens of elemental spirit snakes shot towards the Yellow Emperor and others. No one expected Chi You to have the strength to counterattack in such a situation, catching them off guard. By the time they dealt with this magical attack, Chi You had already flown towards his remaining troops, chanting an incantation incomprehensible to the others. "Not good, it''s the Great Circulation Spell! He''s going to use the Qingyan Circulation Method to escape with his troops!" The Yellow Emperor said urgently. At the same time, another incantation reached everyone''s ears. It was Tang Xiaojie''s incantation for the Sea of Ice. Chi You''s magical spirit snakes had injured Yue Nannan''s left shoulder. Seeing Yue Nannan''s pained expression, Tang Xiaojie was furious, completely furious. With the incantation, elemental storms roared above Chi You''s troops in the distance. Chi You landed among his troops. Seeing their king, the soldiers'' spirits were instantly lifted. Chi You finished his incantation, black smoke billowing from his body and spreading out. Xiao Jie also completed his incantation. The elemental storms above Chi You''s troops transformed into countless beams of cold light that poured down. Instantly, the black smoke turned into steam. The army of over eighty thousand, stretching for miles, was hit by the cold light. In a moment, the ground was covered with over eighty thousand ice sculptures of soldiers. Among them were heavy sword wielders, stick holders, and some who had fallen and were trying to rise. Among them was also a five-meter-tall figure with a single horn on his head. Another flash of cold light spread from the center of the ice-encased army outward. Wherever the cold light reached, the ice sculptures exploded like mines, mixed with frozen blood chunks. This was the super magic skill, the Forbidden Spell: Sea of Ice, defying the natural order. Ordinary magic practitioners could not cast such a spell without thirty minutes of elemental power gathering and incantation. But Xiao Jie was different. This skill was bestowed upon him through the Three Talent Empowerment, making it his innate skill. With the incantation taught by Master Yuandun, it became a truly powerful Forbidden Spell. This earth-shattering power changed the Yellow Emperor''s view of Xiao Jie. Now, in his eyes, Xiao Jie was a divine envoy sent by the heavens to help him defeat his formidable enemy. However, Xiao Jie had no time to bask in this adoration. He flew straight to Yue Nannan''s side, casting a healing spell upon the beautiful woman. On the battlefield, everyone was in awe of Tang Xiaojie''s display of the super Forbidden Spell. Some soldiers knelt on the ground, praising the divine power. Yue Nannan looked at Tang Xiaojie''s anxious expression, feeling sweet inside. Under the healing spell, her wounds healed at a visibly rapid pace. "Everyone, come quickly! Chi You isn''t dead!" The Yellow Emperor shouted as he flew towards the area ravaged by the Sea of Ice. Everyone was startled by his words. Following the direction the Yellow Emperor flew, they saw a five-meter-tall figure shakily rising from the pile of shattered ice. After the initial shock, everyone rushed towards Chi You. Chi You was incredibly resilient. What kind of being was he? The power of the Forbidden Spell could annihilate all life. How could he still be alive? Once again surrounding Chi You, the group saw him laugh despairingly and say, "I never expected, Huang, that you could enlist such a powerful person. His move was a textbook example of a super Forbidden Spell. In theory, no life should survive a Forbidden Spell. Hahaha, but I''m an exception. This is the first time in my life I''ve been directly struck by a Forbidden Spell." Seeing Chi You in this state, everyone was momentarily stunned, not knowing what to do next. The Yellow Emperor was the first to come to his senses and said to Chi You, "Your strength is known to all. To be fair, no one can match you in battle. But you are cruel by nature, waging war incessantly. Today''s outcome is the will of heaven, and it''s your own doing. Today, I will act on behalf of heaven to eliminate you, the demon who brings endless suffering to all beings." With that, the Yellow Emperor lunged forward to slay Chi You. "Wait, Huang. Leave him to me," said the Yan Emperor, descending from the sky, tears clearly visible in his eyes. Seeing the Yan Emperor, the Yellow Emperor and Master Wang simultaneously asked, "How is she?" The Yellow Emperor''s anxious expression spoke volumes about his concern. "She is gone. Before she left, she told me to make sure to kill Chi You, to eliminate this threat to all beings, leaving him no chance to rise again. She also asked me to tell you, Huang, that her heart has always belonged to you!" The Yan Emperor finished speaking, tears streaming down his face again. The Yellow Emperor also cried, silently. Hot tears flowed freely down his resolute face. "Let''s do it together. This is our shared responsibility," said the Yellow Emperor, looking at the Yan Emperor. The Yan Emperor nodded, drawing the two swords used by the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman from his back, and walked towards Chi You. As the Yellow Emperor turned to face Chi You with his heavy sword, Xiao Jie called out to him, "Use this. Ordinary weapons might not kill him." Xiao Jie handed the Extreme Heaven Blade to the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor nodded at Xiao Jie, taking the divine weapon and striding towards Chi You. Although Chi You could still stand, he no longer had the strength to fight. No matter how strong his body, he could not withstand the strike of a Forbidden Spell. Surviving the Forbidden Spell without dying instantly was already a broken myth. But today, he was destined to disappear within this myth. The Yan Emperor''s two short swords deeply pierced Chi You''s sides, and purple-red blood flowed from the wounds. Chi You, unwilling to give up, tried to resist, but the Yellow Emperor gave him no chance to commit further atrocities. The divine weapon, the Extreme Heaven Blade, sliced through the air with a howl, and with a swift motion, the Yellow Emperor decapitated Chi You on the battlefield of Zhuolu, witnessed by Tang Xiaojie, Yue Nannan, Master Wang, and Zhuzi. As Chi You''s head rolled to the ground, they saw a wisp of blue smoke rise from the severed neck and gradually dissipate into the sky. As the smoke completely vanished, a curse echoed from the sky: "I will return, and next time, I will come back with my allies. You who watch me fall today, you will all become the prey whose souls I will devour." Chapter 14 Tang Xiaojie¡¯s experiences during those seven days in ancient times had left him unable to ever again take lightly what Professor and Yue Nannan had warned about the future. He had witnessed the battlefield where hundreds of thousands perished. He had faced incredibly powerful opponents. He had even been personally bestowed the Ultimate Heaven Blade by the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor. This mission could be considered successfully completed. However, for a long time after returning to modern society, Xiaojie would dream of the same scene every night: Chi You¡¯s curse uttered after his death. On the night they returned, the Yellow and Yan Emperors bade farewell to Xiaojie and the others with gratitude. The last thing the Yellow Emperor said to Xiaojie was, ¡°Our difficulties have been resolved thanks to you, but we may not have the ability to help you with the difficulties you will face in your time. Good luck to you!¡± The Nine Heavens Goddess had left the Yellow and Yan Emperors forever, but their resilience deeply moved Xiaojie. Parting and death truly are painful things. If one of the four of them had fallen during those seven days, never to return, could he have faced that reality with such strength? Xiaojie often pondered this. He especially felt a pang of pain in his heart when he remembered Yue Nannan being injured in the left shoulder by Chi You. What if she had died in ancient times? Those seven days were truly a life-and-death struggle. Thinking about it made Xiaojie unwilling to dwell on it any further. ¡°We¡¯ve been back for a while now, Xiaojie. Why don¡¯t we go visit your father tomorrow?¡± Yue Nannan suggested, coming up to Xiaojie, who was lost in thought. Xiaojie looked at Yue Nannan. ¡°Sure, since we¡¯ve been practicing the skills Master taught me ever since we got back. I do miss my dad. I really want to see him.¡± ¡°Yes, having family is a very happy thing. I really envy you,¡± Yue Nannan said, with an expression that conveyed a near familial affection. Xiaojie got up early the next morning. He was in particularly good spirits, probably because he was going home! Master Wang and Yue Nannan accompanied Xiaojie on the journey back home. The three of them took a boat to Dalian, and then traveled from Dalian to Anshan. It took two days in total. When Xiaojie stepped out of the Anshan passenger station, everything looked both familiar and new to him. He had been a Missionary for almost two months, with one trip lasting over a month, and had even traveled to ancient times. Who would believe it if he told them? Being alive is great! Just as he was lost in thought, Master Wang timely reminded him, ¡°Why don¡¯t you buy something for your dad? If you don¡¯t have money, use your salary card at the bank. Your salary should be in there by the tenth of each month, and you should have received a few thousand yuan by now. Don¡¯t be extravagant with the elderly!¡± Xiaojie nodded and said with a smile, ¡°Master, I¡¯ll buy some good food to take home. You and Yue Nannan should come to my house for dinner. After all, it¡¯s normal for colleagues to visit my home, right?¡± ¡°Sure, sure. We¡¯ve been eating vegetarian food on the mountain or wild vegetables and animals in ancient times. I¡¯ve been longing for some home-cooked food. Haha, you¡¯re a thoughtful guy.¡± Hearing this, Xiaojie and Yue Nannan said in unison, ¡°No need to guess, we knew you¡¯d say that.¡± Then everyone laughed. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Around three in the afternoon, they arrived at Xiaojie¡¯s home. Tang Xiaojie¡¯s home was on Changqing Street in the Tie Dong District. It was a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment. His father, 53 years old, was a retired senior technician due to health reasons. Mr. Tang was very hospitable. Seeing his son return after such a long trip, he was overjoyed and warmly welcomed his son¡¯s two colleagues. Xiaojie¡¯s mother had passed away early, so he lived with his father. The greatness of fatherly love was fully evident in this home. Mr. Tang felt an inexplicable fondness for Yue Nannan upon seeing her. Perhaps this old father had already decided that she was his future daughter-in-law. Mr. Tang was very talkative and had a great time chatting with Master Wang. Usually, he was bored at home alone, but now that there were more people, he opened up even more. Master Wang, being a naturally humorous person, found great rapport with Mr. Tang. Xiaojie took on the task of cooking, with Yue Nannan volunteering to help in the kitchen. It was actually quite simple. Most of what they bought was pre-cooked for convenience. After all, how many young people enjoy cooking? However, they did buy a live grouper because Mr. Tang loved braised fish. This dish really stumped Xiaojie. He intended to ask his father to cook it, but Yue Nannan stopped him. Having grown up without parental care, she had learned to take care of herself and was a skilled cook. She was indeed an exception among modern young people. At around five in the evening, they officially started dinner at Xiaojie¡¯s suggestion. With six dishes and one soup, it was a very sumptuous meal. In this extremely warm atmosphere, the four of them happily enjoyed a reunion dinner. Xiaojie had no idea that this meal might be his last dinner with his father. After he left home again, he would never have the chance to return. The only way to fulfill his filial duty would be to send money home to his father every month and call him when he had the time. In the days to come, Xiaojie would face a life that defied normalcy. Xiaojie initially planned to stay home for a few days to spend time with his father. Master Wang and Yue Nannan also had this idea. After all, the feeling of home is warm and happy for everyone. However, things didn¡¯t go as planned. Early the next morning, Master Wang¡¯s phone rang. A major problem had arisen. The call was from Professor Wang. It turned out that the headquarters had been unable to contact the Anshan liaison point for the past few days and didn¡¯t know where Dawei, who was left behind to guard Yue Nannan, had gone. At that time, Yue Nannan and the others hadn¡¯t returned yet. The professor, whose injury had long since healed, decided to come to Anshan to investigate. When he arrived at the liaison point (the farmhouse at the foot of Qianshan), he discovered that Dawei was already dead. It seemed he had been dead for quite some time. Strangely, he was killed by a special elemental force, which persisted on his body, preventing any decay. When Xiaojie and the others arrived at the liaison point, National Security personnel were already there handling the scene. The professor was talking with a security official, describing Dawei¡¯s identity and the situation when he found Dawei¡¯s body. Xiaojie and the others examined Dawei¡¯s body. There was indeed an undispersed elemental force. This force was very peculiar, different from any magical or Taoist form. But it was undoubtedly elemental energy, which was puzzling. After gathering some information, the National Security personnel took Dawei¡¯s body away. The professor and the others began to investigate who might have attacked Dawei and why such a strange incident occurred. Despite their efforts, they couldn¡¯t reach any conclusive results. The professor said, ¡°Let¡¯s stop speculating. I¡¯ve taken a blood sample from Dawei and some of the undispersed element from his body. I¡¯ll analyze them at the lab to see if we get any results.¡± Everyone agreed with the professor¡¯s suggestion. After a long and disappointing day, with one incident after another, they were unsure of what these events portended. As night fell, Xiaojie intended to go home to be with his father, but two special visitors made him stay. Chapter 15 Around seven o''clock in the evening, a milky-white elemental portal opened in the courtyard. From the portal emerged a man and a woman, both dressed in seamless celestial robes, with light blue long hair and an aura of harmonious elemental energy surrounding them. Xiao Jie, who was about to head home, walked out of the house and bumped into the two newcomers. The girl who stepped out first saw Xiao Jie and excitedly rushed forward, grabbing his hand and looking at him with deep emotion. "Are you alright? Since I left, I haven''t heard from you. Master Yuandun told me you had returned, so I came specifically to see you." "Fuer Li, it''s you. What brings you here?" Xiao Jie was equally excited. This woman shared a special bond with him, having spent a night together as husband and wife. Fuer Li responded, "Actually, my visit is arranged by Master Yuandun. Before you went to ancient times, the master should have told you to see the truth and come back alive. The master, who rarely involves himself in worldly affairs, informed us about everything. I came this time to tell you some secrets. We might become comrades-in-arms in the future." As she spoke, Fuer Li leaned closer to Xiao Jie, clearly showing that she had deep feelings for him. She was not as carefree as when she left Laoshan; after all, she was a woman who needed someone to rely on. Their moment was interrupted by an untimely cough. Master Wang and the others had already arrived in the courtyard, and they couldn''t miss the elemental energy radiating from such a close distance. The usually calm Yue Nan''nan stepped forward, pointing at Fuer Li and her companion, questioning them sharply, "Who are you? What are you doing here?" Her eyes also glanced at Xiao Jie with suspicion. Under Yue Nan''nan''s sudden questioning, Xiao Jie instinctively let go of Fuer Li''s hand and said nervously, "This is Fuer Li from the fifth dimension. What''s wrong with you?" Realizing her lapse, Yue Nan''nan quickly composed herself. Master Wang stepped in to smooth things over, "Actually, they''re old acquaintances; it''s just that some of you haven''t met before. Let''s talk inside." Led by Master Wang, everyone returned to the house, and the earlier awkwardness gradually dissipated as they discussed serious matters. After brief introductions and pleasantries, Fuer Li got straight to the point. "We came to inform you of a significant matter. Our people from the fifth dimension have long foreseen an impending catastrophe. This was later confirmed by Master Yuandun, validating our predictions." Under the expectant gaze of the group, Fuer Li recounted the facts shared by Master Yuandun with her and her companions in Laoshan. She explained that in the course of history, a species extinction cycle occurs every ten thousand years, leading to the emergence of new species. Examples of such cycles are numerous in the historical records held by the true fifth-dimensional beings. For instance, ancient manuscripts from the Vatican mention that Earth had four human generations. The first generation was giants, who perished from hunger. The second generation was destroyed by massive fires. The third generation, the apes, annihilated themselves through mutual slaughter. The fourth generation, the ''Sun and Water'' phase humans, were decimated by a great flood. However, not all humans perished in these cataclysms; some wise individuals evolved into fifth-dimensional beings. Chinese people, notably, are descendants of the fourth generation who survived the flood due to the success of their mission. Yet, whether by fate or cyclical destiny, today''s humanity faces an unprecedented catastrophe ten thousand years later. This generation of mission bearers will confront the invasion of three great demon kings. Hearing this, Professor Wang asked, "Three great demon kings? Are there others besides Lucifer mentioned in the scriptures?" Fuer Li gravely replied, "Yes, the bloodthirsty war god Chiyou will return with greater power. Moreover, a powerful alien species from the outer reaches of the Milky Way, from the planet Morgada, will invade Earth. These beings, born with the power of fifth-dimensional people, lack the immortality of true fifth-dimensional beings but possess parasitic abilities. They can find hosts and parasitize them, absorbing their life force to renew their own lives. Thus, they are known as cosmic marauders, a warlike and powerful race." Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Pillar, who had been listening, broke into a cold sweat, and Yue Nan''nan shivered with fear. Master Wang opened his mouth twice but couldn''t speak. Xiao Jie exchanged a look with Professor Wang, who then asked, "Is this alien race close to Earth? Why have they chosen our planet?" Fuer Li explained, "They''re not close to Earth. My analysis suggests they initially had no interest in Earth because Earth''s life force is too weak for their parasitic needs. Additionally, they don''t exist in the same dimensional world as us; they live in another dimensional world with the power of fifth-dimensional beings in a three-dimensional space. Their motives for this cross-dimensional invasion are unclear to me." Each word from Fuer Li sent tremors through the fragile hearts of everyone in the room. Tang Xiao Jie asked, "How many are there? The demon king you mentioned, is he their leader? How powerful is he?" Fuer Li responded, "There aren''t many of them. Their planet is only a third the size of the moon, with a total population of just over fifty thousand. Including those parasitizing other planets, their numbers don¡¯t exceed four hundred thousand. The third demon king is indeed their leader, a mysterious figure whose capabilities match those of Lucifer and Chiyou." The room was filled with gasps. Another monster like Chiyou, whom even the highest-level magic couldn¡¯t easily defeat, was terrifying. Fuer Li continued, "Besides informing you of these matters, I have another purpose for my visit." As soon as she said this, Yue Nan''nan cast a wary look at her, like a jealous woman eyeing a rival. Fuer Li glanced at Yue Nan''nan without reacting and said, "Chiyou and Lucifer are obviously allies, but the Morgada aliens shouldn¡¯t have any inherent connection with them. We can disrupt their plans first, then focus on the other two demon kings." Yue Nan''nan quickly asked, "How does this relate to your purpose? It seems this catastrophe also affects your fifth dimension, doesn¡¯t it? Otherwise, why would you be so concerned?" The other fifth-dimensional being beside Fuer Li interjected, "You''re right, beautiful young lady. Xuanyuan (the Yellow Emperor) successfully evolved into a fifth-dimensional being and became our great elder. Out of gratitude, he decided to help you." With this explanation, everyone understood. The battle from 4600 years ago was continuing today, a cyclical relationship indeed. However, Yue Nan''nan had a different perspective. "You wouldn''t help us if it weren¡¯t necessary, right? Because Chiyou would inevitably find his way to the fifth dimension, correct?" The interjecting fifth-dimensional being blushed and fell silent. Fuer Li, unconcerned, said, "You have a point. This time, I am here on behalf of my father to invite Tang Xiao Jie, Miss Yue Nan''nan, Dong Yuan Zhu, and Master Wang Yong to visit the fifth dimension. My father, along with the ten greatest sages of our world, will bestow new wisdom and abilities upon you. We hope you understand our intentions." Hearing this, Yue Nan''nan finally relaxed and stopped worrying about whether the girl opposite her was a romantic rival. Fuer Li continued, "Xiao Jie, bring your Extreme Heaven Blade. My father said this artifact could become even more powerful." Xiao Jie, pleased, replied, "Don¡¯t worry. This divine artifact goes wherever I go. You can¡¯t see it, but when I need it, I can summon it with my mind." This time, it was Fuer Li¡¯s turn to be surprised. She murmured, "No wonder my father said you are the true master of this artifact." Professor Wang interjected, "Alright then. We¡¯ll split up. I¡¯ll take the samples collected from Dawei and go with the security bureau to Beijing for analysis. You will go with Fuer Li to the fifth dimension. When you return, come directly to Beijing to find me. I¡¯ll send someone here in the meantime." Everyone agreed with this plan, smiling at each other. Master Wang was the most excited. Since meeting Xiao Jie, his reputation as a sword immortal had faded. If he could upgrade, maybe even his elder brother wouldn¡¯t look down on him anymore. Tang Xiao Jie felt increasingly that life was unpredictable. The Yellow Emperor had become a fifth-dimensional being and a leader at that. Truly, destiny had its way of asserting itself. As for himself, he didn''t want to be a king or a hero. One day, having a farmhouse like the contact point and living there with his beloved would be enough. Ideally, living there with Yue Nan''nan would be perfect. But now, as a mission bearer, he had to fulfill his duty. He had to strive forward. Chapter 16 After Tang Xiaojie, Yue Nannan, Dong Yuanzhu, and Master Wang emerged from the portal, they were greeted by countless five-dimensional beings as if they were welcoming superstars. Due to the relationship with the Yellow Emperor, almost all the five-dimensional beings regarded the four as epic heroes. A few five-dimensional children even presented flowers to them, immediately enveloping them in happiness. Xiaojie whispered to Nannan, "Being a star feels pretty good, huh?" Yue Nannan, looking at Xiaojie, gave him a sweet smile. Led by Furli, the group basked in admiring gazes from all around as they proceeded forward. They were headed to a place called Tongtian Pavilion, which, according to Furli, was the tallest and only fixed building in the entire five-dimensional space. Why was it the only fixed building? Xiaojie and the others found out along the way. The five-dimensional world truly transcended the three-dimensional form of points, lines, and surfaces. Even the ground was vastly different from that of the human world, resembling a soft sponge or the clouds in the sky. The five-dimensional beings referred to walking as "strolling in the clouds." In midair, various types of floating buildings moved along fixed trajectories. Occasionally, some buildings would descend to the ground, from which five-dimensional beings in different styles of seamless attire would emerge to stroll in the clouds. Along the way, they encountered mythical creatures such as gentle unicorns, fierce dragons, angelic winged horses, and qilins strolling in the clouds. It was truly magical how these rare divine beasts coexisted harmoniously with the five-dimensional beings as if they were equal neighbors. Seeing the excited expressions on everyone''s faces, Furli felt immensely proud. When a pair of golden phoenixes flew overhead, she happily pulled Xiaojie and shouted, "Look, that''s Roosevelt and Churchill, my father''s pets." Xiaojie was equally thrilled and muttered to himself, "It would be so cool to have pets like these." Furli smiled at Xiaojie and said, "It''s not impossible. It depends on whether you have the ability and luck. Hehe, I can show you around later. There''s no sun or moon here, but the entire space naturally produces light. There are no nights, so you can stroll in the clouds anytime." As they walked and chatted, Roosevelt and Churchill, the two phoenixes, circled overhead, following them. In the distance, a tall building was becoming clearer. This building had the style of ancient Chinese architecture, resembling a giant tower or pavilion. It appeared to be about a hundred meters tall and thirty meters wide, very majestic, but without the imposing grandeur of human imperial buildings. From what they had seen along the way, it seemed that the five-dimensional space had no armies, weapons, or any factors of discord. There were no wastelands, no farmlands, no factories, and no signs of energy use, but the air was filled with an abundance of elemental energy. It was truly a wondrous world. When they arrived in front of Tongtian Pavilion, a robust man about 2.5 meters tall, leading a group of five-dimensional beings, came to greet them. Looking at this tall man''s resolute face, Xiaojie felt as if he had returned to the battlefield of Zhuolu 4600 years ago. This was the universally acknowledged ancestor of the Chinese people, the great Yellow Emperor. Seeing Xiaojie and the others, the Yellow Emperor quickly stepped forward and gave Xiaojie a firm hug. "I''ve been waiting for you. I never thought we would meet again after 4600 years." Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Xiaojie, looking at the Yellow Emperor, said emotionally, "Yes, we meet again. But for us, it hasn''t been 4600 years, only a little over half a month." "Hahaha, you''re right. You are indeed people of this era." The Yellow Emperor''s hearty laughter still carried the majesty of a king from ancient times. As the Yellow Emperor and Xiaojie walked hand in hand towards Tongtian Pavilion, a massive portal of elemental energy appeared in midair to their left. The intense elemental fluctuations made everyone stop and look carefully at the transformation in the sky. As the elemental portal fully formed, a huge saucer-shaped spaceship about fifty meters in diameter appeared in everyone''s view. This spaceship seemed similar to the transportation tools of the five-dimensional beings, with no visible welding marks, and most importantly, it emitted no engine noise, indicating it did not use human technology. Who were the owners of this spaceship, and what was their purpose here? Everyone watched the approaching spaceship with solemn expressions. Xiaojie said to the Yellow Emperor, "This spaceship is strange. Its construction technology seems similar to your five-dimensional transportation tools, but its appearance resembles the UFOs seen on Earth. It even has a black dragon emblem on it. What on earth is this?" "A black dragon emblem!" The Yellow Emperor exclaimed, "Morgadarans! Yes, this is the symbol of the Morgadaran star. How did these warlike thieves come here?" Hearing this, Xiaojie was also bewildered. They had just learned about the Morgadarans, and now they were encountering them. Was it possible that on their first visit to the five-dimensional space, before they even had a drink, they would have to fight? Xiaojie couldn''t understand it. Master Wang, showing his seasoned side once again, shouted to everyone, "No matter what their purpose is, prepare for battle." Yue Nannan and Zhuzi silently moved to stand beside Xiaojie and Master Wang, forming a line. The five-dimensional beings naturally gathered around the Yellow Emperor, forming another battle team. The Yellow Emperor shouted to Roosevelt and Churchill in the sky, "You two go and notify the other guardians to gather here." The two phoenixes, upon hearing the Yellow Emperor''s command, let out a long cry and flew away into the distance. The spaceship landed about fifty meters away from them. A hatch slowly opened on the side of the ship, and with the opening of the hatch, beams of faint yellow light shot out from inside. In the yellow light, one by one, Morgadarans emerged. These beings were about 1.7 meters tall on average, with strong builds and green skin. Their facial features were similar to humans, but they had no hair, eyebrows, or beards. Their attire was very uniform, all in black clothes, black pants, and black boots, looking very sharp. The first Morgadaran to emerge was also wearing a black leather trench coat. There were a total of twenty-one of them. As they all emerged from the spaceship, they formed a disciplined formation. The one in the black trench coat stood at the front, with the others forming two rows of ten behind him. After forming up, they marched in step towards the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor, looking at these cosmic robbers, said to Xiaojie, "I''m really sorry. You just arrived and now have to face this situation. I didn''t expect these guys to act so quickly." Before Xiaojie could respond, Zhuzi spoke up, "I also didn''t expect them to be so bold as to directly invade the five-dimensional space." "It''s okay. What''s meant to come will come. There''s no avoiding it, so we can only face it calmly," said Yue Nannan thoughtfully. After speaking, she glanced at Furli standing beside the Yellow Emperor. Furli was also looking at her. Neither of them avoided the other''s gaze, but both showed some uneasy anxiety. The Morgadarans stopped about ten meters from the Yellow Emperor and the others. The one in the black trench coat took a step forward, scanning the crowd with a condescending look. Chapter 17 Under his gaze, the usually gentle five-dimensional beings couldn''t suppress their anger. The Yellow Emperor, a true sovereign, did not relinquish the right to speak first. He took a step forward, his imposing figure bringing an air of authority that pressured the prideful opponent. "Molgaran, state your name and purpose for coming here," he demanded with a regal tone. The lead Molgaran''s arrogant demeanor diminished. He looked at the Yellow Emperor and said, "I am the Chief of Staff of the Molgara Planet''s military, equivalent to a Corps Chief of Staff on Earth. However, we don''t have as many people as Earthlings, so our army is naturally smaller but vastly superior in quality! My name is Mosoyev." Speaking in impeccable Mandarin, Mosoyev continued, "I am here on behalf of our ruler, Lingbao Zunwang, and the Chief of the Military, Duobao Dasheng, to borrow something." Upon hearing this, the Yellow Emperor and Master Wang exchanged a glance, both frowning slightly. The Yellow Emperor asked calmly, "If I''m not mistaken, your Lingbao Zunwang must also be from our world, correct?" Mosoyev responded, "I cannot disclose that. I can only say that our ruler is a great deity who created us and lives among us." The Yellow Emperor did not press further, "What is it that you want to borrow?" "We want the Treasured Cauldron and the Divine Blade from your five-dimensional world," Mosoyev replied with a smile. Hearing that they wanted the Treasured Cauldron, the Yellow Emperor lost his composure. The Treasured Cauldron was the supreme treasure of the five-dimensional space, a device that stabilized the space. Although it had no other practical use, it was a strategic asset, allowing armies to traverse dimensions and planes freely. The strategic significance was clear¡ªif the Molgarans obtained it, it would become a platform for their invasions, leading to untold devastation across countless planes, planets, and races. The Yellow Emperor firmly stated, "We will not lend you these items. Don''t even think about it. Leave here immediately." Mosoyev also frowned, "I am a soldier, a warrior. A warrior must complete his mission. We will not leave empty-handed. Although you five-dimensional beings are powerful, I advise you not to resist. Hand over the items, or this place will be laid to waste! I''m not joking." The Yellow Emperor looked up, pleased, and said, "If you have the ability, then try and take them by force. Our guardians haven''t exercised in a while. Let''s see what you invaders are made of." At that moment, dozens of knights appeared in the sky. Each knight rode a mythical beast¡ªdragon riders, phoenix riders, unicorn riders, qilin riders, and pegasus riders. They each wielded heavy swords of ancient design, though clearly not made of bronze. The aura around these knights was vastly different from the harmonious energy of other five-dimensional beings. Their energy was powerful and violent, with a deep and terrifying presence. Cold eyes gazed down upon the small beings below. The Yellow Emperor, exuding an air of superiority, looked at the ignorant Molgarans, saying nothing further. Mosoyev and his Molgaran comrades were visibly shocked but did not lose their composure as professional soldiers. Mosoyev drew a short sword from his waist. The sword looked more like an artifact than a weapon, a classic Chinese blade adorned with a lifelike black dragon, giving the illusion of movement. The hilt was encrusted with a fiery red gem, like a flickering flame, captivating everyone''s attention. The entire sword was only twenty centimeters long. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Upon seeing the short sword, the Yellow Emperor suddenly shouted to the guardians, "Attack immediately! Don''t let him release the Black Dragon Sword. Finish this quickly, leave no survivors." The guardians, hearing the elder''s command, dove down on their mythical beasts to attack the Molgarans. The twenty Molgaran warriors leapt into the air to meet the guardians. These Molgaran warriors lived up to their reputation as a powerful warrior race, requiring no weapons. They deflected heavy sword strikes with their arms, counterattacking effectively. The heavy swords bounced off their bodies as if striking a truck tire, while their attacks were equally ineffective against the guardians. Both sides possessed rubber-like bodies immune to physical attacks. Despite the mythical beasts, the guardians only had a slight upper hand. Two pegasus knights charged at Mosoyev, determined to execute the elder''s order and kill him before he could use the short sword. Their bravery was commendable, but their opponent was out of their league. As they swung their heavy swords at Mosoyev, he vanished from their sight. In an instant, Mosoyev appeared above them, releasing the Black Dragon Sword. The short sword transformed into a two-meter-long black dragon, wrapped in lightning-like power, piercing the two pegasus knights as easily as a spike through tofu. The knights had no chance to use their last-ditch efforts before losing their lives. Their pegasus mounts cried out in sorrow. As Mosoyev prepared to strike the pegasi again with the Black Dragon Sword, a golden sword flew into the air, transforming into a three-meter-long golden dragon that intercepted the black dragon. The golden dragon, radiating light, clashed with the lightning-wrapped black dragon in a fierce battle. Tang Xiaojie had thrown the Divine Blade, which transformed into a golden dragon, battling the black dragon sword''s form. He then launched himself at Mosoyev. Without exchanging any more words, the two fought hand-to-hand in the air. Zhuzi and Master Wang rushed to aid the other guardians against the Molgaran warriors. Yue Nannan and Fuli flew up to support Xiaojie. The Molgarans, known as a powerful warrior race and universal bandits, had not anticipated encountering such formidable opponents. Mosoyev, wielding the Black Dragon Sword, believed that despite the five-dimensional beings'' strength, they would be helpless against this artifact meant for slaughter. He did not expect a powerful five-dimensional being to master the Divine Blade, capable of countering the Black Dragon Sword. Even more unexpected was the combat prowess of the Divine Blade''s wielder, aided by two skilled women. Mosoyev found himself overwhelmed. In less than ten seconds, he received six punches, a kick, and a piercing sword strike from Xiaojie, along with three devastating elbow strikes from Yue Nannan. Fuli, too, proved a formidable opponent, leveraging her five-dimensional abilities to strike from a distance, landing powerful blows. Proud Mosoyev did not last a minute, falling to Xiaojie''s palm sword strike through his chest. The Molgaran Chief of Staff died without knowing his killer''s name. With Mosoyev''s life extinguished, the Black Dragon Sword lost its elemental power, reverting to its original form and flying towards Xiaojie. He felt a special, friendly energy emanating from the sword as he caught it with both hands¡ªDivine Blade in his right, Black Dragon Sword in his left. "Oh my, the Black Dragon Sword chose a new master upon Mosoyev''s death," the Yellow Emperor exclaimed in astonishment. "Is this a gift from the heavens?" "It''s a gift from the Molgarans, specifically for Xiaojie!" Yue Nannan said with a smile. With Master Wang and Zhuzi''s help, most of the twenty Molgarans were slain. Despite their physical immunity to conventional attacks, they were vulnerable to magical and martial attacks. With Mosoyev and most of their comrades dead, the two surviving Molgaran warriors surrendered. Under the Yellow Emperor''s command, the guardians cleaned the battlefield, escorting the two prisoners to the underground chamber of the Sky Tower for interrogation. Fuli was assigned to bury the two fallen pegasus knights. After making all the arrangements, the Yellow Emperor looked at Tang Xiaojie and the others with a bitter smile, "It seems the five-dimensional space is about to plunge into war." Xiaojie replied, "Didn''t you sense the impending danger long ago?" The two shared a knowing smile and walked hand in hand into the Sky Tower. Chapter 18 The interior of Tongtian Tower resembled a botanical garden, with various unknown flowers blooming in a sea of blossoms. Amidst the vast array of exotic and strange flowers, a five-meter-wide path extended inward. Walking along this path, one would find a reception hall closest to nature. The hall was crafted to appear boundless, like another dimension. The light in the hall was akin to natural sunlight, yet no source of illumination could be found. In the hall were two tables: a large rectangular conference table surrounded by nearly twenty spacious and comfortable chairs, and a round dining table with a diameter of no less than four meters, surrounded by ten chairs, all meticulously arranged. According to Emperor Huang, despite the Tongtian Tower''s hundred-meter height, it only had three floors, each a dimension of infinite space. The first floor was for reception and dining, the second for training and developing new skills, and the third for rest and storing the Precious Cauldron. Accessing these three floors required a small incantation known only to Emperor Huang and the ten great sages; ordinary Five-dimensional beings were not easily permitted entry into the tower. Xiao Jie half-jokingly asked Emperor Huang, "Ancestor, why haven''t I seen your wife? Shouldn''t you introduce us? Or is it that women must avoid guests here?" Emperor Huang laughed at this and replied, "You brat! I''m afraid if I call her out, you won''t be able to handle it. Since you want to meet her, I''ll call her." He looked up and said to the air, "Come down. Xiao Jie and the others want to meet you." Master Wang teased Emperor Huang, "Ancestor, you called to the second floor, didn''t you? Why so mysterious? Are we going to see a ghost?" Before Master Wang could finish his sentence, a graceful woman about 1.8 meters tall appeared before them. She smiled and said, "Master, long time no see." Tang Xiaojie, Yue Nannan, Zhuzi, and Master Wang were all stunned as if they''d seen a ghost, especially Master Wang, whose forehead was covered in sweat as the woman walked toward him. Unable to control himself, Master Wang trembled, raising his hand weakly in front of him, saying, "Don''t come closer! You''re dead! Are you human or ghost? Emperor Huang! No, Great Elder, do you Five-dimensional beings raise ghosts?!" The woman before them was the Nine Heavens Goddess, who had died in the Battle of Zhuolu 4600 years ago. No one knew this better than Master Wang because her death was partly due to him. It was his Dou Qi blast that deflected Kua Fu''s flying axe, which then struck the Nine Heavens Goddess, who had thrown herself in front of Emperor Yan. Now, seeing her alive, smiling and walking toward him, who wouldn''t be afraid? The Nine Heavens Goddess smiled at Master Wang and the others, "Don''t be afraid. I''m alive, not a ghost. Actually, I owe my survival to you, Master Wang. It was your three healing spells in the end that saved my life. Yan thought I died because I fainted from the pain." After Emperor Huang confirmed this, everyone relaxed. After the battle, he found a faint breath in the Nine Heavens Goddess and, using his medical skills, managed to save her. After peace was restored, Emperor Huang took her on a journey, eventually reaching Wuji Mountain, where they ascended to the Five-dimensional space due to their merits. In this new world, Emperor Huang became a Great Elder, and the Nine Heavens Goddess bore him a daughter, Fuler. Emperor Huang teased Master Wang, "Your reaction was too comical. You dare to fight Hell''s Angels but fear ghosts? Are ghosts scarier than demons?" This made Master Wang blush and everyone else laugh. After some casual conversation, Emperor Huang treated the guests to a grand feast of Five-dimensional delicacies, all made from flowers, fresh and not greasy, earning praise from everyone. During the meal, Emperor Huang discussed his plans for the future, a strategic outline he had formulated after consulting with the Circle Man. Initially, there were difficulties, but today''s arrival of the Morga Darans had resolved them. Emperor Huang excitedly explained, "The plan is to have the ten great sages perform a ten-direction enhancement on you four, maximizing your abilities and potential. This might even unlock new skills." Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. He glanced at the Nine Heavens Goddess, gently patting her hand, and continued, "Secondly, we will eliminate the three great demons one by one or prevent them from entering our world. We¡¯ll start with the Morga Darans. Without the Precious Cauldron, they cannot invade on a large scale. We will destroy their energy system before they solve this problem. Their system, like ours, relies on stellar energy and elemental power. They invaded a small planet in the galaxy''s middle region, the Amand Planet, home to the Amand people who excel in using elemental power and storing green energy. It has become the Morga Darans'' energy base. We must destroy it to prevent their invasion." The Nine Heavens Goddess added, "Originally, we weren¡¯t going to mention this plan because reaching Amand Planet is difficult. But now the Morga Darans have brought us a spaceship. Our great sages are inspecting it, and with some modifications, it should allow us to make a few trips into space and across dimensions." "Thirdly, we¡¯ve contacted some great sages from the Six-dimensional divine realm. They¡¯re aware of the impending catastrophe and have provided us with ancient artifacts left by the primordial gods. These artifacts are as powerful as the Ultimate Heaven Blade, though their functions differ. Acquiring these artifacts won''t be easy, but it¡¯s a way to enhance your strength." "Fourthly, I''ve sent many Five-dimensional beings to your Three-dimensional world to find talented individuals who haven''t been discovered yet. We will bring them here for special training to form the backbone against the Hell''s Angels and Chiyou." At this point, Xiao Jie interjected, "Can''t we lure the Morga Darans to Earth to fight the Hell''s Angels? Their Four-dimensional bodies should be more suitable for the angels to possess, allowing us to take advantage of the situation." Emperor Huang sighed, "We considered that, but it¡¯s not feasible. Xiao Jie, you don''t know the Morga Darans¡¯ background. Now, I¡¯ll tell you. Their king is beyond our ability to confront." Yue Nannan asked, "Are they stronger than Lucifer in the Bible?" Emperor Huang''s face turned serious, and the Nine Heavens Goddess and other great sages looked dejected. Master Wang, puzzled, asked, "What''s wrong? Who could scare you Five-dimensional beings so much?" Emperor Huang said, "The Black Dragon Sword is the artifact of the Tongtian Cult Leader, who was sealed at the edge of the galaxy by Yuan Shi Tianzun and Laozi for turning to the dark side. Besides Tongtian Cult Leader, he is also called Lingbao Tianzun. The Morga Daran king is known as Lingbao Zunwang. They claim their king-god created them. If true, then Tongtian Cult Leader escaped his seal and created new intelligent life. Imagine, it took Yuan Shi Tianzun, who is Pangu, and Laozi to seal him. His power is formidable even in the Six-dimensional divine realm. Don¡¯t compare him to Lucifer or Chiyou." This revelation depressed everyone. How could they hope to match such a formidable enemy? It became clear they must prevent his arrival, not wait to counter him. Emperor Huang continued, "Their military leader is likely Duobao Zhenjun, a disciple of Tongtian Cult Leader. If they arrive, they can go anywhere with their abilities. But we must prevent them from bringing their army, or the world will become hell." Xiao Jie nodded, "I understand. Our only hope is to destroy or seize their energy source." Emperor Huang agreed, "Yes, it''s the only thing we can do and must do. Seizing it is almost impossible, so destroying it is the most direct way. Without the Precious Cauldron, they need that energy." The Nine Heavens Goddess encouraged, "Don''t be too pessimistic. If we fail, and all three great demons arrive on Earth, the Six-dimensional divine realm won¡¯t stand idly by. While they may ignore Lucifer and Chiyou, as they are part of the cyclical destiny, Tongtian Cult Leader¡¯s goal is broader. His power threatens the gods, and the divine root in Earth''s East is crucial. In such a scenario, even the gods above the Six-dimensional realm won¡¯t remain passive." Her words revived everyone¡¯s spirits, sparking a lively discussion about the future. Emperor Huang resumed, "Our plan also involves a promise from the Circle Man to send us special forces when needed. However, he didn¡¯t specify what kind of forces. We must take it step by step." The hall buzzed with renewed discussion. In the end, they agreed to first complete the ten-direction enhancement for Xiao Jie and the others. Then, they would seek out the designated artifacts. The Five-dimensional beings would modify the spaceship and monitor the Four-dimensional space and Morga Daran activities. The impending disaster loomed closer to humanity, and the mission-bearers intensified their preparations. No one knew how much time they had left. On Laoshan''s Three-peak Summit, the Circle Man gazed at the full moon and said to Lin Kainan, "Kainan, I''ve calculated the great disaster will arrive in three years. With your current abilities, you should ascend to the Six-dimensional realm with me. You..." Before he could finish, Lin Kainan interrupted, "No, Master. I won''t leave. You said the events in the Western Bible are true. Besides describing the terror of demons, it also speaks of God''s omnipot ence. Isn¡¯t this my destined test? Why would I flee? I want to protect the world like Emperor Huang and Yan." The Circle Man sighed, "The light of destiny''s ending is upon us. These three years are crucial. I hope your words are as strong as your resolve." Chapter 19 Tang Xiaojie and the other three received blessings from the Ten Great Sages and Pillar was the most excited among them. Pillar was the one who gained the most from the blessing. With the empowerment of the Ten Great Sages, Pillar''s strength had undoubtedly reached the level of a quasi-sword immortal. Moreover, in the use of elemental powers, he had surpassed the level of a quasi-sword immortal. Now, he could easily use spells like the Demon Suppression Holy Light and Divine Shield, which he couldn''t use before. The leap in elemental power also led to breakthroughs in area-of-effect magic. Building on his existing Thunder Hand technique, Pillar also mastered advanced magic skills like the Thunderstorm. Originally a natural powerhouse, his strength now defied description. The other three also experienced significant leaps in strength, although not as pronounced as Pillar''s. Yue Nannan''s overall strength had long surpassed that of a sword immortal. Through this blessing, all her major skills had advanced by a level. Previously, she could instantly release a third-level Holy Light and hold a fifth-level one, but now she could instantly release a fourth-level and hold a terrifying sixth-level. Master Wang, being a sword immortal himself, didn''t see much change in his other abilities, but his potential was significantly unleashed through the blessing. His combat aura reached unprecedented heights, and skills like Aura Barrier, Aura Light Wave, and Divine Shot were greatly enhanced. Additionally, Master Wang could now convert his own combat aura into elemental power to replenish his magic. Xiaojie''s strength also saw a significant increase, with all his skills advancing by a level, although he didn''t gain any new skills as Pillar did. However, his ability "Divine Prayer," similar to meditative strengthening, transitioned from a strengthening exercise to a skill. He could now enter a meditative state with multiple people simultaneously, enhancing their training effectiveness through the Divine Prayer mantra. Seeing Pillar''s gains, Xiaojie couldn''t help but feel a bit dismayed. The Ten Great Sages were exhausted after blessing Xiaojie and the others. Blessing the four nearly drained all their magical power. After receiving thanks from Xiaojie and the others, the Ten Great Sages found a place to rest. Huangdi sensed Xiaojie''s thoughts and said with a smile, "You''re good now. Your overall strength improvement is already impressive. Don''t envy others too much; it''s unlikely that anyone here can achieve the heights you have. Besides, you still have two artifact-level items: the Extreme Heaven Blade and the Black Dragon Sword. Don''t forget to appreciate what you have." Xiaojie understood the wisdom in Huangdi''s words. After hearing Huangdi''s advice, he chuckled and said, "Alright, ancestor. I''m not someone who always wants more. I''m content." Huangdi continued, "You guys, rest here with me for a while. Don''t rush back. I''ll have someone show you around later. Nothing is gained by being impatient. Take things one step at a time." Yue Nannan asked Huangdi, "Elder, when will you tell us about the five divine artifacts? It''s important." Huangdi glanced at Yue Nannan and said, "As for the exact location of the divine artifacts, I''m not sure. A senior in the Six-Dimensional Divine Realm drew a map and handed it to Master Yuandun. Master Yuandun said he would send someone to deliver it to the Beijing Institute of Life Sciences. When you go to Beijing, you''ll know everything." For some reason, Yue Nannan didn''t seem eager to stay in the Five-Dimensional Space for sightseeing. Perhaps she wanted to keep a distance from Xiaojie and Fu Erli. Of course, Yue Nannan didn''t know that Xiaojie had evolved into a Five-Dimensional being because of his relationship with Fu Erli. However, her woman''s intuition told her that there was something between Xiaojie and Fu Erli. Although Xiaojie hadn''t had any substantial relationship with her, nor had he confessed anything, Yue Nannan knew her own mind. She didn''t want other women to be too close to the man she liked. But before she could say anything, Huangdi spoke again, "I know you''re eager. But don''t rush. If you''re not interested in sightseeing, you can rest here. Wait a little longer. Fu Erli''s mother wants to talk to Xiaojie alone." This reason made it difficult for anyone to refuse. They couldn''t say they were too busy to let Xiaojie and Jiutian Xuan Nu chat! However, it seemed like they had made an unspoken agreement and all sat there without moving. Under Huangdi''s guidance, Jiutian Xuan Nu led Xiaojie out of the Great Hall. Master Wang knew everything about Xiaojie and Fu Erli. According to his guess, Jiutian Xuan Nu was probably going to ask Xiaojie if he was willing to marry Fu Erli. This should be the most important thing for any parent, and now, considering Xiaojie''s strength, he was qualified to marry any kind of woman. Pillar was the most confused one. Although he was very smart, he seemed to be naturally immune to matters of love and had never noticed anything special between Fu Erli and Xiaojie. So despite being in his thirties, he didn''t even have a girlfriend, but that was also related to the nature of his work. How could someone who traveled all year round have time to date? The most sensitive one was Yue Nannan. A woman''s intuition was always accurate. She had a premonition she couldn''t explain. With Fu Erli''s status and appearance, no man would refuse her. The air in the Five-Dimensional Space was full of the breath of life, giving a feeling of endless energy. The Three-Dimensional world, which nurtured them, felt like a mother''s warmth and attachment. Breathing the air here was like feeling the breath of a mother. Pillar sat by the window, watching the rows of poplars flying away from him. Xiaojie sat beside him and asked Master Wang, "Master, how long before we get to Beijing? I''ve never been to the capital before." Master Wang glanced at Xiaojie and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? We haven''t even sat down properly since we got on the car. It takes nine hours from Anshan to Beijing. Calculate the time yourself." Yue Nannan took out red and green tea from a bag and handed it to Xiaojie, Master, and Pillar. The four of them drank their beverages in silence. Finally, Master Wang couldn''t help it. He looked at Xiaojie and asked, "Come on, what did Jiutian Xuan Nu say to you? She took you out for so long." Yue Nannan also looked at Xiaojie with a hint of eagerness and anticipation in her eyes, waiting for his answer. Xiaojie looked at Master Wang and said, "Master, you''re even more gossipy than when I first met you. Aren''t you able to read minds? Why bother asking me?" Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "You''re still teasing me! If I could read minds now that you''re like this, then I wouldn''t be a sword immortal anymore. Stop beating around the bush, just spill it," Master Wang said impatiently, annoyed by Xiaojie''s response. Pillar also looked at Xiaojie, showing a curious expression, wanting to know what was going on. Xiaojie said seriously, "Nothing much. She told me that I''m the natural enemy of Chi You. Chi You was originally an evil spirit that existed before Pangu created the world. He grew stronger by devouring other spirits. Over 7,000 years ago, he successfully cultivated, but because he caused trouble in the world, he was suppressed by the first Emperor Fuxi. Unexpectedly, he didn''t change his ways and caused chaos again over 4,600 years ago. As a result, he was killed by us and Emperor Yan. Jiutian Xuan Nu said there''s an ancient aura of the great god Fuxi in my body, so it''s very likely that I''m the reincarnation of Fuxi. But I don''t quite believe that. However, she insists that I''m destined to be Chi You''s nemesis." "Is that all?" Yue Nannan seemed to be uninterested in the topic of who Xiaojie was reincarnated from. She was only concerned about whether the current Tang Xiaojie had discussed any private matters with Jiutian Xuan Nu. "Of course, there''s more," Xiaojie continued, "She told me some inside information about Lucifer. She said many things recorded in the Western Bible are true. Lucifer has never appeared in the human world, so his strength is unclear. Especially this time, teaming up with Chi You, it''s even more terrifying. She urged us to gather the five divine artifacts scattered across the world; otherwise, it''ll be difficult to have any chance of winning." "Is that all?" Yue Nannan asked eagerly again. When Xiaojie confirmed that he had only said these things, Yue Nannan felt a little relieved. But they had talked for nearly two hours outside, and there were still some strange things about it, but she didn''t feel comfortable asking anymore. In fact, Jiutian Xuan Nu did mention Fu Erli to Xiaojie. Both she and Huangdi hoped to marry their only precious daughter to Xiaojie. First, they were already a couple. Second, Xiaojie was an extraordinary talent of the ages. Third, their precious daughter had deeply fallen in love with Tang Xiaojie and was now infatuated with him. This was the most important point. Xiaojie was also troubled. He didn''t know why he always had Yue Nannan''s figure in his mind. Although the two had nothing besides the incident of mistakenly patting her chest, Xiaojie felt a bit sorry for Yue Nannan when he thought of the intoxicating moment with Fu Erli. Although he had a premise of saving someone, although he certainly didn''t have any other way, Xiaojie knew himself best. It was pure nonsense to say he didn''t like Fu Erli. But Xiaojie had truly fallen for Yue Nannan, and he knew it better than anyone else. In the end, Xiaojie pushed it aside with the idea of delaying the problem for now. He told Jiutian Xuan Nu that they shouldn''t talk about this now, and let nature take its course with our young people''s affairs. Most importantly, facing so many important matters, I can''t just focus on my personal affairs. If we can successfully avert future disasters, then I can consider personal matters with peace of mind. Xiaojie''s words left Jiutian Xuan Nu stunned. From this point of view, Jiutian Xuan Nu appreciated this outstanding young man even more. She even believed that only a reincarnation of the ancient god Fuxi could have such breadth of mind. Anyway, no matter what, Xiaojie managed to push this matter aside. As for what to do in the future, he didn''t want to think about it. Let''s just get through this hurdle first and then talk. On September 10th at 9:30 AM, Tang Xiaojie and the other three walked out of Beijing Railway Station. Located on Ritan Road in Beijing, this area was the capital of China. Upon exiting the station, the first impression that struck Xiaojie was the sheer number of people. Even in the early morning, the entire square in front of the station was bustling with activity. Master Wang, being a native Beijinger, couldn''t resist boasting about his hometown. "Isn''t Beijing great?" Master Wang exclaimed excitedly to Xiaojie. "Unlike Anshan, where you come from, the air pollution isn''t as severe here. Our greenery is quite impressive. How about paying a visit to Ritan Park? You can take Bus No. 1 or No. 4 from here. Or perhaps we could stroll through Wangfujing. Take Bus No. 120 and get off at the south gate of the Temple of Heaven. It''s not far from there. Let me tell you, Wangfujing is like heaven on earth. You can find famous snacks from all over the country there, and it''s a great place for shopping." "Alright, Master. Stop trying to sell us on this," Yue Nannan interrupted. "Except for Xiaojie, who might find it interesting, do you really think we''d be interested in these places?" This remark almost choked Master Wang, as he realized that Yue Nannan had been living in Beijing for many years as well! Even Pillar couldn''t resist a disdainful comment. "Master, are you still trying to sell us on this? Who talks about taking a few buses like this? Shouldn''t we just hire a taxi?" Just as Master Wang was left speechless by their criticism, a Toyota Land Cruiser with the words "Chinese Institute of Life Sciences" printed on it pulled up in front of them. The driver''s window rolled down, revealing a young man about Xiaojie''s age, who called out to Master Wang, "Old Wang, I hope I''m not late. Get in, the professor is waiting for you at the institute." Master Wang''s face lit up upon seeing the young man. "See, my private car is here," he remarked as he made his way towards the vehicle. Xiaojie couldn''t help but sweat profusely as he followed the others onto the car. Even a fool could see that this was a vehicle from the Institute of Life Sciences. How could Master Wang claim it was his private car? Once inside the car, the young driver turned to Xiaojie with a smile. "You must be Tang Xiaojie, right? I''m the driver for the institute, Yu Qiang. The professor has mentioned you quite a bit." Xiaojie politely replied, "Yes, I''m Tang Xiaojie. Nice to meet you, Yu Qiang." Yu Qiang chuckled. "No need to be so formal. We''re all on the same team here. Everyone buckle up, we''re off." The Institute of Life Sciences was located near the Thirteen Tombs in the Changping District on the outskirts of Beijing. It was a secluded location, unknown to most of the local residents because the institute had no visible signs. After an hour-long drive, they finally arrived at the institute''s premises. It was a sprawling complex reminiscent of a high-security prison. A large black iron gate, three meters high and five meters wide, stood open, allowing their car to pass through. Inside, there was a parking lot with three Toyota Land Cruisers, identical to the one they were in. After getting out of the car, Xiaojie observed the institute, which seemed like a fortress. Surrounding the compound was a path lined with rows of willow trees, with three sports fields in the middle. On the left side of the sports fields, where they had parked, was a parking lot with six spaces and three garages. Behind the sports fields stood a massive four-story building, with unidentified devices on the rooftop, likely for signal reception. Two entrances on the left and right sides led into the building. As they walked towards the left entrance, Master Wang explained, "This building may look like a single unit, but it''s actually divided into two parts. The larger area on the left is for offices, laboratories, meetings, and the cafeteria. The accommodation facilities are on the right." Xiaojie nodded in understanding, refraining from asking too many questions. There would be plenty of opportunities to familiarize himself with the place in the future, and there was no need to appear ignorant by asking too many questions like a clueless child. Upon entering the building and proceeding to the first-floor conference room numbered 101, they found Professor Wang and another spirited elderly man waiting for them. Sitting beside them was a young man who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old. This young man was none other than the venerable Lian Kena, who was over three hundred years old. Chapter 20 When everyone saw Lin Kenan, they couldn''t believe their eyes. How did this reclusive old man, who was wise and crafty, come here? And he even changed into modern clothing. Seeing everyone''s surprised expressions, Lin Kenan said to Master Wang, "What''s wrong, little Wang? Seeing your senior brother here, you don''t even say hello. That''s quite rude." Only then did Master Wang react, feeling embarrassed as he said, "Senior brother, it''s just that your appearance here is quite unexpected. How did someone like you, who avoids the world, come here?" At this moment, the professor spoke up, "I''m sure everyone has many questions. But let''s not rush; we''ll take it slowly. First, let me introduce Xiaojie to everyone." The professor called Xiaojie over and introduced the small old man beside him to Xiaojie, saying, "Xiaojie, this is Director Liu of our Institute of Life Sciences. He''s also the leader of our Missionary Organization." "Director Liu, hello," Xiaojie greeted the unremarkable old man. Director Liu affectionately patted Xiaojie''s shoulder, "Truly a young hero. Your name has filled my ears. Welcome to join us." Director Liu''s words were few but sincere, which made Tang Xiaojie feel warmly towards him. Director Liu continued to address everyone, "Let me formally introduce our new member of the Missionary Organization, Lin Ke-Nan. I''m sure you all are not unfamiliar with him." Upon hearing that his senior brother had also joined the organization, Master Wang was nearly speechless. How could this crafty old man become a missionary? Not only Master Wang, but Yue Nannan, Zhuzi, and Xiaojie were also a bit incredulous. He was truly an extraordinary person, a transcendental being beyond the five elements. Lin Kenan looked at everyone''s expressions and found it amusing. The old crafty man said to everyone, "No need to be surprised. We are indeed on the same side now. My master personally instructed me to come down the mountain to help you. Moreover, my master has already sent letters to my two senior brothers. They will join us when necessary." Another astonishing statement. Director Liu glanced at everyone and smiled, saying, "Let''s sit down first. I''ve already had the cafeteria prepare food. We''ll eat first and then discuss some matters." After everyone was seated, Director Liu looked at Lin Kenan and said, "Senior, please go ahead." Lin Kenan didn''t beat around the bush either. He nodded and took out a map from his pocket, spreading it out on the table. He said to everyone, "Before I came down the mountain, my master gave me this map. It records the locations of the five major artifacts. It also notes the difficulties in obtaining each artifact. Let''s take a look and discuss. Obtaining the five artifacts is our top priority." While looking at the map, Master Wang commented, "So it was you whom Master assigned for this task, senior brother." Lin Kenan glanced at Master Wang and said, "Little Wang, is your brain not working well? Besides me, are there not other people around Master?" Master Wang was completely speechless. Since he got off the train today, he had been stunned twice already. Especially since this senior brother of his never gave him any face, regardless of whether there were others around or not. According to the map, the five major artifacts were located in four mountains and one ancient temple. Lin Kenan pointed to the symbol on the right side of the map and said, "According to the map, the summit of Mount Tai in Tai''an City, Shandong Province, hides the Empty Dream Mirror left by the Bodhi Patriarch in the mortal world. The place where the Empty Dream Mirror is kept is protected by a chaotic two-dimensional barrier. And I don''t know what use the Empty Dream Mirror has." Then Lin Kenan pointed to the symbol on the left side and continued, "At the summit of Mount Hua in Huayin City, Shaanxi Province, lies the Ghost Axe Skill used by Erlang Shen to split mountains and save his mother. But the location of the Ghost Axe Skill is guarded by two large stone statues." Lin Kenan''s finger then moved to the symbol above as he continued, "In Hengshan County, Shanxi Province, within Mount Heng, lies a golden bowl left by the Lamp Buddha in the world. The specific location of the golden bowl in the mountain is unknown, and the difficulties encountered are also unclear." Everyone present listened carefully as Lin Kenan continued, "At the summit of Mount Heng in Hengyang, Hunan Province, lies the Hope Light left by Laozi in the world. The Hope Light is said to have independent wisdom and has no guardians. Because the Hope Light automatically sets obstacles for those who approach it." Finally, Lin Kenan''s finger stopped at the center of the map, "Inside Shilin Gorge in Beijing, there is an ancient temple. Inside the temple lies the Sun-shooting Divine Bow left by Houyi in the world. It is said that a very powerful divine beast guards the divine bow." After Lin Kenan finished speaking, he glanced at everyone. Director Liu was the first to speak, "Since there is a major artifact in Beijing, let''s start by obtaining this divine bow. It''s just that as a native Beijinger, I don''t know of any ancient temple in Shilin Gorge. It''s a scenic area; how could there be an ancient temple?" After a long silence, Master Wang spoke up, "There is a dilapidated temple in a deserted area north of Shilin Gorge. I don''t know how old it is. There''s no development value there, so no department has touched it for many years. I don''t know if it''s where the divine bow is." On the side, Yu Qiang said, "Even if there is a temple, I haven''t heard of any divine beast. If there really was a divine beast, it should have been widely known by now. In this day and age, even remote areas are frequented by people." Xiaojie interjected, "There''s nothing strange about that. These five artifacts were originally prepared for us by the upper-class of the Hexa-Dimensional Realm. If there is a divine beast, it should be temporarily dispatched. That''s why it hasn''t been discovered." Since Yu Qiang didn''t understand the specific situation, he angrily said, "Damn it! These self-righteous people. Why set up these obstacles for us if they''re going to help us anyway!" Lin Kenan said to Yu Qiang, "Don''t you understand? People of the Fifth Dimension and above cannot easily intervene in matters of the Third Dimension. Even if they want to help us, they need some excuses. Besides, this is also an opportunity for everyone to improve their strength and find a chance for training." "Well, the Elder also told us the same thing. If it weren''t for this disaster directly involving the Hexa-Dimensional World, they wouldn''t have intervened directly ," Yue Nannan said. Hearing this, Yu Qiang felt a little ashamed and said nothing. At this time, Lin Kenan said, "If there is no other opinion, we will start with the ancient temple in Shilin Gorge. I will lead the way. We will leave in three days." Yue Nannan saw that there were no other abnormalities and was the first to approach the injured woman. As she helped examine her knee, she asked, "What''s your name, and how did you get injured? It''s so remote here, how did you end up coming here?" The injured woman replied, "My name is Jin Jie. I work at the Shilin Gorge Scenic Area. Last night, I saw a beam of golden light passing by in this direction. Out of curiosity, I followed it here. Just here, a huge strange bird appeared. It flew towards me, and I was accidentally knocked down by the bird. Then I passed out. When I woke up, I found that my knee had hit a stone, and now it''s difficult for me to walk. Luckily, I met you all." Jin Jie''s account sounded very convincing, but Zhuzi, who was observant, noticed something unusual. Despite describing her ordeal, the woman showed no signs of panic, speaking calmly about what happened. It seemed she wasn''t afraid of the strange bird. Thinking this, Zhuzi kept his eyes fixed on the woman, carefully observing her every move. Her long hair was still tangled with grass as she sat curled up on the grass. However, her proud demeanor couldn''t be concealed by her pitiful appearance. Despite her rough exterior, she was quite attractive, though not as much as Fuli and Yue Nannan. Especially from her demeanor, she exuded a mature feminine charm, making her more attractive to the opposite sex than someone like Yue Nannan. After examining the woman''s injury, Yue Nannan said to Xiaojie behind her, "Come help me support her leg. I''m going to drain the bruise and then use healing techniques to treat her." Before Xiaojie could respond, Zhuzi, taking the initiative, said, "I''ll do it." He stepped forward to the woman and squatted down, firmly pressing her injured leg. At the same time, he exchanged a glance with Yue Nannan. Yue Nannan seemed not to have caught on initially, but when she noticed Zhuzi''s meaningful look, she suddenly paused. Though her reaction was subtle, the injured woman caught it. Zhuzi turned his head to the woman and said, "Let me take a look. I graduated from Peking University''s Department of Physical Education. I specialize in sports medicine. Can I check your pulse?" The woman hesitated for a moment, and suddenly, a cunning gleam flashed in her eyes. She grabbed Zhuzi''s hand firmly and said, "Big brother, you must save me. That strange bird might come back at any time." Her grip was strong and warm, not at all like that of an injured woman. Zhuzi''s suspicion grew stronger. Subtly, he silently recited an incantation. A close-range azure light enveloped his body ¨C a soul shield, with extremely high defense against magical attacks but relatively lower defense against physical ones. Just as the shield deployed, the woman, calling herself Jin Jie, suddenly stretched out her other hand, which had been supporting her body, and aimed a palm strike at Zhuzi''s chest. In her palm, a golden flame wrapped around. Zhuzi had been on guard, but at such close range, he couldn''t completely avoid it. Although he wasn''t directly hit by the strike, the magical flame sprayed onto him. The collision of the golden flame and the soul shield created a spectacular display of sparks. Despite standing up, Zhuzi was pushed back three or four steps by the force. The sudden turn of events put everyone on high alert. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The woman, who had appeared pitiful just moments ago, also stood up. Her previously injured knee had miraculously recovered. Standing up, the woman no longer feigned pain as before. She exuded a tremendous elemental fluctuation and the aura of a powerful being. Standing at about 1.75 meters tall, she was much taller than the slender Yue Nannan. Her figure was full and well-proportioned, an absolute beauty. If taken to Japan to work in a brothel, she would undoubtedly be the most sought-after commodity. Master Wang and Xiaojie stepped forward to stand beside Yue Nannan and Zhuzi, eyeing the mysterious woman with suspicion. "What are you? What do you want?" Zhuzi asked in a steady voice. The woman gave Zhuzi a sweet smile and said, "You''ve got some skills, big guy. Let me tell you the truth. I am the guardian of the Divine Bow of Houyi, the Golden Phoenix. I''ve already told you my name." With that, she extended her hands, which turned into two giant wings, and her body expanded. Her entire body was adorned with golden feathers, emitting a golden glow. The tall phoenix crown on her head accentuated her majesty. With this, everyone understood. It also confirmed that the divine bow was undoubtedly in this place. Lin Kenan, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward and said to everyone, "As a newcomer, let me handle this. Rest for a while. I''ll deal with this phoenix." Xiaojie said, "Elder Lin, you''re over three hundred years old. Is it appropriate for you to take action? Let us young people handle this." "Don''t argue. The phoenix is a natural divine beast, not an ordinary monster. Its strength is definitely extraordinary. Let''s tackle it together and settle this quickly to retrieve the divine bow," Yue Nannan said coldly. Master Wang, never one to miss a chance for humor, quipped, "What divine beast? In my eyes, it''s just a beast. One moment a beauty, the next a beast. I really don''t know if she''s a beauty or a beast." The phoenix on the other side was speechless. Being evaluated like this was an insult to a wise and powerful creature. After the sudden change, even the seemingly pitiful woman stood up. Her previously injured right knee had also returned to normal. The woman standing up no longer feigned pain as before. She emanated a huge elemental fluctuation and the aura of a powerful being. Standing at around 1.75 meters tall, she was much taller than the slender Yue Nannan. Her figure was full and well-proportioned, an absolute beauty. If taken to Japan to work in a brothel, she would undoubtedly be the most sought-after commodity. Master Wang and Xiaojie stepped forward to stand beside Yue Nannan and Zhuzi, eyeing the mysterious woman with suspicion. "What are you? What do you want?" Zhuzi asked in a steady voice. The woman gave Zhuzi a sweet smile and said, "You''ve got some skills, big guy. Let me tell you the truth. I am the guardian of the Divine Bow of Houyi, the Golden Phoenix. I''ve already told you my name." With that, she extended her hands, which turned into two giant wings, and her body expanded. Her entire body was adorned with golden feathers, emitting a golden glow. The tall phoenix crown on her head accentuated her majesty. With this, everyone understood. It also confirmed that the divine bow was undoubtedly in this place. Lin Kenan, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward and said to everyone, "As a newcomer, let me handle this. Rest for a while. I''ll deal with this phoenix." Xiaojie said, "Elder Lin, you''re over three hundred years old. Is it appropriate for you to take action? Let us young people handle this." "Don''t argue. The phoenix is a natural divine beast, not an ordinary monster. Its strength is definitely extraordinary. Let''s tackle it together and settle this quickly to retrieve the divine bow," Yue Nannan said coldly. Master Wang, never one to miss a chance for humor, quipped, "What divine beast? In my eyes, it''s just a beast. One moment a beauty, the next a beast. I really don''t know if she''s a beauty or a beast." The phoenix on the other side was speechless. Being evaluated like this was an insult to a wise and powerful creature. After the sudden change, even the seemingly pitiful woman stood up. Her previously injured right knee had also returned to normal. The woman standing up no longer feigned pain as before. She emanated a huge elemental fluctuation and the aura of a powerful being. Standing at around 1.75 meters tall, she was much taller than the slender Yue Nannan. Her figure was full and well-proportioned, an absolute beauty. If taken to Japan to work in a brothel, she would undoubtedly be the most sought-after commodity. Master Wang and Xiaojie stepped forward to stand beside Yue Nannan and Zhuzi, eyeing the mysterious woman with suspicion. "What are you? What do you want?" Zhuzi asked in a steady voice. The woman gave Zhuzi a sweet smile and said, "You''ve got some skills, big guy. Let me tell you the truth. I am the guardian of the Divine Bow of Houyi, the Golden Phoenix. I''ve already told you my name." With that, she extended her hands, which turned into two giant wings, and her body expanded. Her entire body was adorned with golden feathers, emitting a golden glow. The tall phoenix crown on her head accentuated her majesty. With this, everyone understood. It also confirmed that the divine bow was undoubtedly in this place. Lin Kenan, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward and said to everyone, "As a newcomer, let me handle this. Rest for a while. I''ll deal with this phoenix." Xiaojie said, "Elder Lin, you''re over three hundred years old. Is it appropriate for you to take action? Let us young people handle this." "Don''t argue. The phoenix is a natural divine beast, not an ordinary monster. Its strength is definitely extraordinary. Let''s tackle it together and settle this quickly to retrieve the divine bow," Yue Nannan said coldly. Master Wang, never one to miss a chance for humor, quipped, "What divine beast? In my eyes, it''s just a beast. One moment a beauty, the next a beast. I really don''t know if she''s a beauty or a beast." The phoenix on the other side was speechless. Being evaluated like this was an insult to a wise and powerful creature. After the sudden change, even the seemingly pitiful woman stood up. Her previously injured right knee had also returned to normal. The woman standing up no longer feigned pain as before. She emanated a huge elemental fluctuation and the aura of a powerful being. Standing at around 1.75 meters tall, she was much taller than the slender Yue Nannan. Her figure was full and well-proportioned, an absolute beauty. If taken to Japan to work in a brothel, she would undoubtedly be the most sought-after commodity. Master Wang and Xiaojie stepped forward to stand beside Yue Nannan and Zhuzi, eyeing the mysterious woman with suspicion. "What are you? What do you want?" Zhuzi asked in a steady voice. The woman gave Zhuzi a sweet smile and said, "You''ve got some skills, big guy. Let me tell you the truth. I am the guardian of the Divine Bow of Houyi, the Golden Phoenix. I''ve already told you my name." With that, she extended her hands, which turned into two giant wings, and her body expanded. Her entire body was adorned with golden feathers, emitting a golden glow. The tall phoenix crown on her head accentuated her majesty. With this, everyone understood. It also confirmed that the divine bow was undoubtedly in this place. Lin Kenan, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward and said to everyone, "As a newcomer, let me handle this. Rest for a while. I''ll deal with this phoenix." Xiaojie said, "Elder Lin, you''re over three hundred years old. Is it appropriate for you to take action? Let us young people handle this." "Don''t argue. The phoenix is a natural divine beast, not an ordinary monster. Its strength is definitely extraordinary. Let''s tackle it together and settle this quickly to retrieve the divine bow," Yue Nannan said coldly. Master Wang, never one to miss a chance for humor, quipped, "What divine beast? In my eyes, it''s just a beast. One moment a beauty, the next a beast. I really don''t know if she''s a beauty or a beast." The phoenix on the other side was speechless. Being evaluated like this was an insult to a wise and powerful creature. After the sudden change , even the seemingly pitiful woman stood up. Her previously injured right knee had also returned to normal. The woman standing up no longer feigned pain as before. She emanated a huge elemental fluctuation and the aura of a powerful being. Standing at around 1.75 meters tall, she was much taller than the slender Yue Nannan. Her figure was full and well-proportioned, an absolute beauty. If taken to Japan to work in a brothel, she would undoubtedly be the most sought-after commodity. Master Wang and Xiaojie stepped forward to stand beside Yue Nannan and Zhuzi, eyeing the mysterious woman with suspicion. "What are you? What do you want?" Zhuzi asked in a steady voice. The woman gave Zhuzi a sweet smile and said, "You''ve got some skills, big guy. Let me tell you the truth. I am the guardian of the Divine Bow of Houyi, the Golden Phoenix. I''ve already told you my name." With that, she extended her hands, which turned into two giant wings, and her body expanded. Her entire body was adorned with golden feathers, emitting a golden glow. The tall phoenix crown on her head accentuated her majesty. With this, everyone understood. It also confirmed that the divine bow was undoubtedly in this place. Lin Kenan, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward and said to everyone, "As a newcomer, let me handle this. Rest for a while. I''ll deal with this phoenix." Xiaojie said, "Elder Lin, you''re over three hundred years old. Is it appropriate for you to take action? Let us young people handle this." "Don''t argue. The phoenix is a natural divine beast, not an ordinary monster. Its strength is definitely extraordinary. Let''s tackle it together and settle this quickly to retrieve the divine bow," Yue Nannan said coldly. Master Wang, never one to miss a chance for humor, quipped, "What divine beast? In my eyes, it''s just a beast. One moment a beauty, the next a beast. I really don''t know if she''s a beauty or a beast." The phoenix on the other side was speechless. Being evaluated like this was an insult to a wise and powerful creature. After the sudden change, even the seemingly pitiful woman stood up. Her previously injured right knee had also returned to normal. The woman standing up no longer feigned pain as before. She emanated a huge elemental fluctuation and the aura of a powerful being. Standing at around 1.75 meters tall, she was much taller than the slender Yue Nannan. Her figure was full and well-proportioned, an absolute beauty. If taken to Japan to work in a brothel, she would undoubtedly be the most sought-after commodity. Master Wang and Xiaojie stepped forward to stand beside Yue Nannan and Zhuzi, eyeing the mysterious woman with suspicion. "What are you? What do you want?" Zhuzi asked in a steady voice. The woman gave Zhuzi a sweet smile and said, "You''ve got some skills, big guy. Let me tell you the truth. I am the guardian of the Divine Bow of Houyi, the Golden Phoenix. I''ve already told you my name." With that, she extended her hands, which turned into two giant wings, and her body expanded. Her entire body was adorned with golden feathers, emitting a golden glow. The tall phoenix crown on her head accentuated her majesty. With this, everyone understood. It also confirmed that the divine bow was undoubtedly in this place. Lin Kenan, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward and said to everyone, "As a newcomer, let me handle this. Rest for a while. I''ll deal with this phoenix." Xiaojie said, "Elder Lin, you''re over three hundred years old. Is it appropriate for you to take action? Let us young people handle this." "Don''t argue. The phoenix is a natural divine beast, not an ordinary monster. Its strength is definitely extraordinary. Let''s tackle it together and settle this quickly to retrieve the divine bow," Yue Nannan said coldly. Master Wang, never one to miss a chance for humor, quipped, "What divine beast? In my eyes, it''s just a beast. One moment a beauty, the next a beast. I really don''t know if she''s a beauty or a beast." The phoenix on the other side was speechless. Being evaluated like this was an insult to a wise and powerful creature. After the sudden change, even the seemingly pitiful woman stood up. Her previously injured right knee had also returned to normal. The woman standing up no longer feigned pain as before. She emanated a huge elemental fluctuation and the aura of a powerful being. Standing at around 1.75 meters tall, she was much taller than the slender Yue Nannan. Her figure was full and well-proportioned, an absolute beauty. If taken to Japan to work in a brothel, she would undoubtedly be the most sought-after commodity. Master Wang and Xiaojie stepped forward to stand beside Yue Nannan and Zhuzi, eyeing the mysterious woman with suspicion. "What are you? What do you want?" Zhuzi asked in a steady voice. The woman gave Zhuzi a sweet smile and said, "You''ve got some skills, big guy. Let me tell you the truth. I am the guardian of the Divine Bow of Houyi, the Golden Phoenix. I''ve already told you my name." With that, she extended her hands, which turned into two giant wings, and her body expanded. Her entire body was adorned with golden feathers, emitting a golden glow. The tall phoenix crown on her head accentuated her majesty. With this, everyone understood. It also confirmed that the divine bow was undoubtedly in this place. Lin Kenan, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward and said to everyone, "As a newcomer, let me handle this. Rest for a while. I''ll deal with this phoenix." Xiaojie said, "Elder Lin, you''re over three hundred years old. Is it appropriate for you to take action? Let us young people handle this." "Don''t argue. The phoenix is a natural divine beast, not an ordinary monster. Its strength is definitely extraordinary. Let''s tackle it together and settle this quickly to retrieve the divine bow," Yue Nannan said coldly. Master Wang, never one to miss a chance for humor, quipped, "What divine beast? In my eyes, it''s just a beast. One moment a beauty, the next a beast. I really don''t know if she''s a beauty or a beast." The phoenix on the other side was speechless. Being evaluated like this was an insult to a wise and powerful creature. Chapter 21 When everyone returned to the Life Sciences Research Institute, it was still not yet seven o''clock. They had acquired their first piece of divine equipment in less than three hours, which greatly boosted everyone''s confidence. On the way back, Xiao Jie and the others couldn''t help but envy Zhuzi, who rode on the back of the Golden Phoenix while everyone else had to rely on their own magic to fly. Even Zhuzi himself felt incredibly proud and imposing. Upon their return to the institute, they happened to encounter Director Liu. The old man glanced at everyone but didn''t ask if they had obtained the divine equipment. Instead, he urgently said, "You¡¯ve come back at the right time. Follow me to the second-floor laboratory. The professor has results from the samples collected from Dawei''s body. Let''s go take a look." Hearing this, everyone hurriedly followed Director Liu to the laboratory. In room 203 on the second floor, four or five staff members were analyzing some strange spectrograms on computers. Two other staff members were examining samples under microscopes. The professor was writing test results on a computer. Director Liu approached the busy professor. The others followed suit. Without looking up, the professor said, "Five minutes. Give me five more minutes." Xiao Jie thought to himself, "These people wake up so early every day. It''s only a little after seven, and they''re already hard at work. They work even harder than I did as a salesman!" Five minutes later, the professor saved the data and stood up. He said, "Let''s talk somewhere else so we don''t disturb others." Director Liu nodded in agreement. Everyone followed him to a small reception room in room 201 and sat down. The professor, with a serious expression, said, "The test results are out. Whoever killed Dawei must be very powerful. The Security Bureau found no signs of struggle or resistance on his body, indicating he had no chance to fight back before he died." Master Wang, impatient with unnecessary details, interrupted, "Professor, just tell us the test results. What elemental power caused Dawei''s death, and can you identify the perpetrator?" Realizing he had been rambling, the professor cleared his throat and continued, "This elemental power does not come from our dimensional world, which is why we couldn''t identify it initially. Last night, I discovered signs of cellular transformation in Dawei''s blood sample. In the transformed cells, a unique genetic chain was revealed. I spent the night analyzing it and finally obtained the result. The elemental power lingering on Dawei''s body was not an attack magic. This power seems designed to preserve the body and provide memory revival. It resembles Daoist magic." Lin Kainan asked, "Professor, are you saying that after Dawei was killed, someone used this magic to protect his body, possibly as a message to us?" The professor replied, "Theoretically, yes. We''ve also identified the user of this Daoist magic, but we''re not entirely certain. Lin Kainan, since you''re here, you have broad knowledge, please help us analyze this." He continued, "After the cellular transformation in the blood sample, the mysterious elemental power vanished. The genetic chain revealed two sets of information. One indicated that Dawei died due to a rapid influx of blood into his brain and heart. The other was an external SOS message. Based on this use of elemental power, only one race could have done it." "You mean the Amandans?" Lin Kainan asked. "Yes," the professor confirmed. "They are experts in using energy and elemental powers but not in offensive magic. I can''t think of anyone else who could wield such subtle Daoist magic." At this point, Xiao Jie and the others recalled what Emperor Huang had mentioned about the Amandan people, who excelled in using elemental power and controlling green energy. But how had they come to Earth? Feeling guilty about Dawei''s death since it was her duty to guard the liaison station, Yue Nannan asked anxiously, "What should we do next?" The professor looked at Yue Nannan and said, "We should go to the Five-dimensional space and see if we can take action early." Xiao Jie asked, "Professor, do you mean we should go to Amand Planet to destroy their energy source and investigate the situation?" "I think it''s our only option. What do you say, Director Liu?" the professor asked. Director Liu pondered for a moment and then nodded, "That seems to be the best course of action. But not all of you can go. We still need people to find divine equipment. If necessary, I''ll assign some elite newcomers¡ªTaoists, mages, and warriors. Our sharpshooters can also be deployed. This mission is very dangerous. You top mission-bearers can''t all go and take this risk. I can''t afford to gamble on it." Director Liu''s pragmatic approach made sense. Amand Planet, now a Morga Daran colony, could have many hidden experts. And on Earth, few had the exceptional abilities of those in the room. The professor said, "We can decide who goes and who stays, but getting to the Five-dimensional space is still a challenge. If the Five-dimensional beings don''t come, we have no way to go there." Lin Kainan interjected, "I can open the space-time door. Although I can''t send everyone back thousands of years like my master, getting to the Five-dimensional space isn''t a problem." Xiao Jie added, "Traveling to the Five-dimensional space isn''t hard for me either. I have a pocket watch given to me by Fuler, which serves as a key to the space-time door. It connects to the Five-dimensional space but has a 24-hour cooldown period." Everyone looked at Xiao Jie, especially Yue Nannan. Xiao Jie quickly explained, "She gave it to me when I saved her. It has no other use, so I never mentioned it. Why are you all staring at me?" Aside from Master Wang, who knew the inside story, almost everyone speculated about the relationship between Xiao Jie and Fuler, especially Yue Nannan. Director Liu, unbothered by the speculation, continued, "Since accessing the Five-dimensional space isn''t a problem, let''s decide who will go to Morga Daran and who will stay to find the divine equipment." The discussion about who would go and who would stay became heated. Xiao Jie was definitely going; he had two pieces of divine equipment for protection, a space-time key, and unmatched strength, making him the best candidate for the mission. Because Xiao Jie was going, Yue Nannan insisted on accompanying him. Lin Kainan, not wanting to be left out, also wanted to go. Zhuzi didn''t care much, preferring not to compete. However, Director Liu and the professor opposed Yue Nannan and Lin Kainan joining Xiao Jie. Lin Kainan was essential for finding the equipment due to his knowledge of the map, and Yue Nannan, being a girl, was a concern for such a dangerous mission. Even Xiao Jie was against her going with him. Master Wang was eager to see aliens and insisted on going. After over an hour of debate, no consensus was reached. Finally, Xiao Jie suggested, "Stop arguing. Only a few of us should go to Amand Planet. The task involves destroying the energy source and gathering intelligence, which doesn''t require many people. Besides, the remaining team will still face significant challenges in finding the equipment. It¡¯s best if I go with one assistant. There will be Five-dimensional beings accompanying us since we don''t know how to operate the spaceship. A large team would make the mission harder to complete." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Director Liu made the final decision, "No more arguing. Xiao Jie and Five Courage will go to Amand Planet. The rest will stay to find the equipment. This is an order and your assigned task. No further conditions." As the saying goes, a family of a thousand people needs one person in charge. With Director Liu''s decision, everyone complied. It was then that the professor noticed a beautiful woman he didn''t recognize in the room. She hadn''t spoken a word and was standing behind Zhuzi, occasionally massaging his shoulders. Director Liu also noticed her presence and looked questioningly at Zhuzi. Under the professor''s and Director Liu''s questioning, Zhuzi introduced Jin Jie. The room erupted in congratulations and teasing, making Zhuzi and the Phoenix Lady feel a bit embarrassed. Even the normally serious professor joined in the fun. The professor and Director Liu genuinely felt happy for Zhuzi, who, without any warning, had found a wife¡ªan obedient and powerful one. Most importantly, Zhuzi had become the owner of the Houyi Divine Bow. Director Liu promised Jin Jie that her identity would be quickly formalized and that they would hold an official wedding after completing the mission, ensuring she and Zhuzi wouldn¡¯t be wronged. This made the Phoenix Lady feel immensely happy. The next day at noon, Xiao Jie used the space key to open a portal and, along with Master Wang, entered the five-dimensional space. Everyone sent their blessings to them, and Yue Nannan watched Xiao Jie''s back, her eyes brimming with tears. The feeling of reluctance constantly tugged at her heart. Huangdi and Jiutian Xuann¨¹ were somewhat surprised by Xiao Jie and Master Wang''s sudden visit, but upon learning their purpose, Huangdi smiled and said, "You will need to wait a bit longer. The spaceship has been successfully modified, and our people are currently conducting comprehensive inspections on it. This is for your safety. Wait for a few more hours, and I promise to send you into space within ten hours." Meanwhile, in the three-dimensional world, Yue Nannan and the others bid farewell to Director Liu and the professor in the afternoon and set off on their treasure hunt. With Huangdi''s full support, ten hours later, Xiao Jie and Master Wang boarded the spaceship and embarked on their unknown journey. They were accompanied by two five-dimensional beings. One was named Yuri, responsible for piloting the ship, and the other was named Guo Linton, in charge of technical maintenance. Both of these individuals were guardians of the five-dimensional space and, besides their technical expertise, possessed considerable combat skills. They informed Xiao Jie and Master Wang that the spaceship would reach the center of the Milky Way in 240 hours and would activate the dimensional conversion system at latitude 102 to arrive at Amande planet. During the journey, with nothing else to do, the two knowledgeable five-dimensional beings shared extensive knowledge about space and dimensions with Xiao Jie and Master Wang. According to them, within the same universe, there exist many different levels of spatial hierarchies from one dimension upwards. Essentially, they all inhabit the same world but in different forms. Just like how humans can observe the activities of insects, whereas insects perceive humans as higher life forms. The fourth-dimensional space is an exception; it is semi-closed because many elements within it are unsuitable for life forms from other dimensions, preventing shared experiences. For example, the flames of hell would be unbearable for any life form from other spaces. Higher-dimensional beings view the three-dimensional world as humans view insects, and beings in the three-dimensional world cannot see creatures from higher dimensions. Due to the increasing complexity of dimensions, their manifestations also change. Additionally, within the same world, different planes exist, a concept similar to the Buddhist notion of the three thousand worlds. Each dimension represents a separate world, albeit with different positions. If we traverse the planes on Earth, there exists a new world, but it is currently uninhabitable, resembling Earth''s primordial state. Xiao Jie found this quite fascinating. Modern science is highly advanced, yet no scientist has comprehended these concepts. If not for Xiao Jie''s ability to move freely between the three-dimensional and five-dimensional worlds, hearing this would have been hard to believe. However, now Xiao Jie understood why these five-dimensional beings could easily comprehend matters on other planets. As long as it was below the fifth dimension, they could see it all. These people were akin to the Kai¨­s in Dragon Ball, casually peeking into worlds of lower dimensions. Master Wang questioned, "We''ve visited the five-dimensional space twice. Why haven''t we seen any three-dimensional or four-dimensional worlds? Let alone other planes and planets?" Guo Linton replied, "It''s understandable. You aren''t five-dimensional beings, so you can''t enjoy this privilege. You''ve seen the floating castles in our space, right?" Master Wang responded, "Yes, but aren''t those equivalent to our homes on Earth? Do they serve any special purpose?" Yuri explained, "Of course they do. Each floating castle contains a ''World Window.'' This World Window is like a browser for observing other spaces and planes. This is why we five-dimensional beings can know everything about the universe without leaving our homes. It''s said that the second floor of the Tongtian Pavilion has four such browsers, but I¡¯ve never been there." "Wow! An all-powerful computer!" Xiao Jie exclaimed excitedly. Master Wang thought, "If I had such a World Window, I¡¯d be awesome. I could spy on Zhuzi and the Phoenix Woman''s private moments. That would be like watching a live show of a modern-day Xu Xian and White Snake, so thrilling." Feeling bored, Xiao Jie began exploring the spaceship. The internal layout was very well designed. In the center of the entire space, there was an interconnected pillar with a diameter of about one meter. One meter above the ground, it expanded to a diameter of over two meters, forming the main control panel. Around the ship were four observation windows, offering a clear view of the outer space. Various colored, differently sized celestial bodies could be seen distinctly. Occasionally, an errant asteroid would pass closely by the ship. In the outer ring of the cabin were twenty recliners, evidently for the crew to rest. Each recliner had two safety belts. Close to the recliners, the outer ring had four protruding objects, about one square meter each, resembling storage boxes. Each box had a handle on top. Out of curiosity, Xiao Jie opened one and found various food and drinks inside, clearly prepared for the journey. At this point, Yuri walked in, took out a few cans of drinks, and distributed them. He then said to Xiao Jie, "This is a storage box, protected by green energy. Whatever you put in, no matter how long it stays, it won''t spoil. These supplies were brought by the Mologadans; we didn''t bring anything. Thanks to them." Holding the drink, Xiao Jie asked Yuri, "Bro, can you move around freely? Doesn''t the control panel need to be watched?" Yuri nearly spat out his drink, laughing at Xiao Jie''s question. "This ship can travel in space; of course, it has an autopilot function." Xiao Jie was embarrassed. How could he forget such a basic principle? Guo Linton added, "If you¡¯re tired, you can lie down, but remember to fasten the safety belts. Sometimes, the ship encounters cosmic windstorms or asteroid clusters, causing violent shaking. There are also times when the ship must change course suddenly to avoid danger. If you''re not strapped in, you''ll be thrown from your recliner." Xiao Jie and Master Wang felt enlightened once again. The 240-hour, ten-day journey through space didn¡¯t bore Xiao Jie and Master Wang in the slightest. Their first venture beyond Earth made everything new and exciting. Even the occasional meteor showers thrilled them. When the ship reached longitude 102, the control system automatically alerted everyone. Here, they saw a miniature solar system with a star only one-third the size of the Sun and nine moonsized planets orbiting it. The observation windows clearly showed that these planets had conditions suitable for life, featuring oceans and landmasses. Unlike the nine planets of our solar system, which have varying environments due to their distances from the Sun, these planets all seemed habitable. Master Wang attributed this to differences in the ozone layer concentrations. Yuri confirmed Master Wang''s theory. The distant planets had thinner ozone layers, increasing sunlight exposure, while the closer planets had thicker layers, blocking more UV rays, ensuring habitable conditions. However, whether these planets hosted intelligent life was uncertain. The five-dimensional beings didn¡¯t concern themselves with every detail, as they weren¡¯t omnipotent and didn¡¯t need to care about everything. Amid their lively discussion, the ship received a distress signal from the third planet. Evidently, this planet had intelligent life facing some crisis. Driven by curiosity, Xiao Jie and Master Wang decided to investigate. The two five-dimensional guardians, naturally competitive, agreed. United by their sense of justice, they headed for the planet. This planet was small, possibly smaller than the moon, with half ocean and half land. Unlike Earth, it didn¡¯t have multiple continents. Upon entering the atmosphere, they saw the land, where most buildings were destroyed, reminiscent of a world war. Smoke and fires were everywhere. The observation window¡¯s far-reaching imaging feature revealed the ground¡¯s situation. The inhabitants seemed technologically backward, with tall warriors in metal armor wielding axes or spears fighting against shorter, green-skinned beings¡ªthe Mologadans. These giants were likely the natives, battling against the invaders. Despite their robust physiques, the natives were no match for the elite Mologadans. The entire continent was mostly ruined, with a third still resisting. What was unbearable was that only about twenty Mologadans were causing such devastation among countless natives, like lions in a sheep pen. Unable to watch any longer, Xiao Jie and the others exchanged glances and said in unison, "Let''s go down and take them out." Chapter 22 The spaceship rapidly descended and landed less than three kilometers from the battlefield. In their haste, Xiao Jie and his companions hadn''t removed the Molgad star''s insignia. Some keen-eyed Molgadians mistook them for reinforcements, boosting their morale. However, the indigenous warriors on this planet began to waver. They had struggled to face twenty Molgadians, and now more enemies had arrived. How could they continue the fight? But as Xiao Jie and his team emerged from the spaceship and sprinted towards the battlefield, the combat began to slow. Both sides saw that those disembarking were not Molgadians. The four newcomers exuded an immense aura, and though they hadn''t yet approached, their powerful presence was palpable. In no time, the four reached the center of the battlefield. The two sides had automatically created some distance, their attention now focused on Xiao Jie and his team. Xiao Jie, having dealt with Molgadians before, despised these troublesome invaders. He walked to the middle, facing the Molgadians, and said, "Bandits, is there anything you can do besides invade?" His fury was evident, as if he were confronting a group of village invaders. The two five-dimensional beings smartly approached the natives, explaining their origin to avoid misunderstandings. Fortunately, these two acted like universal translators, proficient in any language. Xiao Jie and Master Wang couldn''t understand a word the natives were saying, and they had no time for idle chat with these armored warriors. Having arrived, they first needed to deal with these bandits. The Molgadians looked at Xiao Jie and Master Wang, somewhat taken aback. They were used to causing trouble, not having trouble brought to them. The twenty Molgadian soldiers formed two neat rows, ten in front and ten behind. From an undamaged stone house behind them, a Molgadian leader emerged. Dressed similarly to the others but with two medals on his chest, he appeared to be in charge. He approached Xiao Jie, still fastening his pants, a sleazy grin on his green face. From the house came the anguished cries of a woman, hinting at the horrors she had just endured. The twenty lined-up bandits greeted their leader jovially. At this moment, the Extreme Heaven Blade appeared in Xiao Jie''s hand. Never had he felt such rage since becoming a missioner. Facing Chiyou''s army of hundreds of thousands had stirred his blood. Seeing Yue Nannan injured had pained him. Casting the forbidden spell, Sea of Ice, was out of vengeance. But now, he was genuinely enraged. Anyone could imagine what the crying woman had just suffered. The clueless bandit leader, oblivious to his impending doom, approached Xiao Jie, arrogantly asking, "Let me introduce myself. I''m Shouji Koizumi, captain of the 31st squad of Molgad Star. Who are you? State your names." Koizumi''s smug grin froze in an instant, turning to agony. The Extreme Heaven Blade pierced his chest, its tip emerging from his back. Foul-smelling blood splattered on the ground. His agonized expression quickly faded as Xiao Jie decapitated him, kicking his head towards the bandits. The twenty Molgadian soldiers, seeing their leader''s head flying towards them, fell into chaos. Unlike the disciplined Molgadians who ventured into the five-dimensional space, these soldiers were clearly less trained and of average strength. A greater chaos ensued as a thunder-clad black dragon emerged, weaving through the Molgadians. Screams and cries became the new tune for these arrogant bandits. The last Molgadian, in desperation, tried to charge at Xiao Jie, but two steps in, a large blood hole appeared in his chest. A two-meter-long black dragon pierced through his body, transforming back into an exquisite short sword in Xiao Jie''s hand. The beautiful Black Dragon Sword remained spotless, proving its worth as a treasure on par with the Extreme Heaven Blade. Xiao Jie, his pent-up fury finally released, resembled a god from mythology, descending from the heavens to vanquish foes in an instant. When he turned to face the planet''s natives, a hush fell over the field. Moments later, a louder commotion erupted as the native warriors surged towards Xiao Jie like a tidal wave. From undamaged areas, elders, children, and women also ran to him, prostrating at his feet. Some warriors even kissed his shoes and pants. Though Xiao Jie couldn''t understand their language, he grasped they saw him as a divine savior. The two five-dimensional beings struggled to reach Xiao Jie, telling him, "These natives believe you are their savior, sent by their god to redeem them." "What? How did I become their god''s son? I''m not even from their planet. I don''t understand their language. This is absurd!" Xiao Jie lamented the primitiveness of their beliefs. Guo Lindun explained, "Xiao Jie, they are convinced you''re their savior. I spoke with them, and they said their god resembles you. Haven''t you noticed the physical differences between them and Earthlings?" Prompted by Guo Lindun, Xiao Jie observed the aliens more closely. Apart from being taller and stronger than Earthlings, the natives had a notable feature: two one-inch-long fleshy antennae on their foreheads, above their eyes, resembling insect antennae. Xiao Jie asked, "So, what is this place, and who are these people?" Guo Lindun replied, "This is Zhi Yuan Star, and these people are its inhabitants." At this moment, an elderly man parted the kneeling crowd and approached Xiao Jie, grabbing his pants and speaking fervently. Seeing the old man''s age, Xiao Jie tried to help him up, but the elder refused, becoming more emotional and shedding tears. Xiao Jie, at a loss, looked to Guo Lindun and Yuri for help. Yuri stepped forward, conversing with the elder on Xiao Jie''s behalf. The elder turned out to be the planet''s chief, akin to a king since this planet had only one tribe. He thanked the "son of their god" for descending from the heavens to save them and insisted Xiao Jie visit their temple to receive the gratitude and offerings of their entire tribe. Xiao Jie found it increasingly absurd. He wasn''t dead; why should he receive offerings? But the natives'' fervent devotion made refusal impossible. Finally, after negotiating with Yuri, Xiao Jie agreed to visit the Zhi Yuan Star temple but declined any gifts or offerings. When the natives learned Xiao Jie would stay and visit the temple, they rejoiced, their incomprehensible yet palpable cheers filling the air. Amidst the throng, Xiao Jie was escorted to their temple. Behind the battlefield, an ancient temple stood between two earth mounds. Eight stone pillars, each requiring two people to encircle, supported the ten-meter-high temple. The round roof had a Greco-Roman feel. Constructed from stone, the temple showcased the natives'' wisdom, contrasting with their warlike demeanor. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Before the temple, the natives halted, kneeling with heads bowed. The old chief and a few dignitaries accompanied Xiao Jie and his team inside. The temple''s interior was exquisite. A central aisle led to the altar, flanked by rows of neatly laid cushions, likely for worshippers. At the far end, a 1.5-meter-high, 10-meter-wide, and 5-meter-long altar held a stone statue. The statue, clad in armor and a cape, stood with a large sword thrust into the ground, exuding lifelike spirit. Notably, the statue lacked the forehead antennae, resembling an Earthling. On closer inspection, Xiao Jie was astonished¡ªit looked exactly like him! The altar bore a variety of unknown fruits, and stone torches on either side illuminated the hall. In front of the altar, two rows of seats likely for elders were present. Xiao Jie and his team sat in the front row. The old chief and his companions knelt at the altar, chanting prayers in their language. The chief''s prayers lasted over ten minutes. As he and his aides rose, Xiao Jie, seeing his shaky steps, instinctively went to assist him. This act startled the chief and his aides, who knelt in refusal, moved to tears. Xiao Jie, speechless, returned to his seat. The chief approached Xiao Jie, speaking respectfully. Unable to understand, Xiao Jie responded in frustration. Yuri, reminded by Master Wang, resumed translating. The chief affirmed Xiao Jie as the god''s son sent to save them, insisting he accept their offerings and gifts. The offerings, he claimed, would awaken Xiao Jie''s latent abilities and grant him infinite power linked to the universe''s source. The gift was a battle suit used by their god. Refusing these would signify their god''s abandonment, heralding their tribe''s doom. Xiao Jie asked Master Wang with a bitter smile, "Who would''ve thought a good deed would turn me into a god''s son? Master, what should I do?" Master Wang replied, "This is an unexpected opportunity. Accepting the offerings could enhance your abilities. Seems we mere mortals have no chance of surpassing you now." He shrugged, feigning jealousy. Xiao Jie laughed and told Yuri, "Please tell the chief I appreciate their kindness and will accept the offerings and gifts. But I must clarify, accepting them doesn''t make me their god''s son. I can''t stay on their planet as we have other missions to complete." Yuri conveyed Xiao Jie''s message to the chief. The old chief, with tears streaming down his face, knelt once more at Xiao Jie¡¯s feet. He told Xiao Jie that there was no need for the Son of God to stay here permanently. According to their historical records, the last time the God came, he also left after resolving the disaster they were facing. They only hoped Xiao Jie could help them cross dimensions to rescue their brother race, the Amandians. Even the two five-dimensional beings were deeply shocked by this revelation. They hadn''t expected that two races not even in the same dimension could be brother races. According to the old chief, they and the Amandians originally both lived on Amand Star. About five thousand years ago, they faced an invasion from extraterrestrials. They fought valiantly but were ultimately powerless. Later, their God came to Amand Star in a spaceship and, with unparalleled magic and formidable combat skills, defeated the alien invaders. Their God then guided the Zhi Yuan tribe to migrate to Zhi Yuan Star as a rear base for Amand. Their God had prophesied that five thousand years later, both the Amandians and Zhi Yuan people would face a great calamity. If they were still unable to protect themselves, the Son of God would come to save them from the crisis. When the chief mentioned their God''s name, it shocked Xiao Jie and Master Wang even more. (Fuxi the Great) A name revered by all Chinese descendants as a human emperor and progenitor in mythology. It was incredible to think that such a figure from ancient times had arrived in a spaceship five thousand years ago to save Amand Star. Moreover, the statue on the altar was indeed modeled after an Earthling. Tang Xiao Jie''s personality was relatively carefree like most young men. Since he couldn''t figure it out, he decided not to dwell on it. There was no use wasting brain cells on it. The important thing was that their God should be an Earthling, and he would see how things would develop next. Master Wang seemed to have remembered something suddenly and hurriedly asked, "How many uninfected people are left on Amand Star now?" The chief replied, "None are uninfected. The Amandians who were infected have all been ''returned''.¡± (The Morgaadans, after extracting enough life energy from the host''s body, break out like silkworms from cocoons, returning as new Morgaadans. This process is called ''returning.'' The unfortunate host is left as nothing more than a dried corpse.) "They have already gathered enough for a hundred squads, so they temporarily do not need any more hosts." Master Wang: "How many Morgaadan guards are on Amand Star? Where is the Amandian energy source? How many Amandians are left on Amand Star now?" The barrage of questions bombarded the chief. Xiao Jie also understood Master Wang''s intentions and pricked up his ears to listen to the chief''s answers. Yuri and Gorlinton, like two fully powered translation machines, continuously and accurately relayed the information. The chief said, "There are now less than a thousand Amandians left on Amand Star. Their chief has already been killed. The remaining people live in constant fear, working as slaves to help the Morgaadans build large energy storage devices. The tallest building on Amand Star is called the Tristar Tower. On the rooftop platform, there is a three-meter-long, wide, and high pyramid, which is the energy device. It is very easy to find, located in the central area of Amand Continent. The energy storage device has actually been completed long ago, but it lacks a key to activate it. There are about five Morgaadan squads on Amand Star, each with twenty soldiers and one captain, totaling 105 people. But now, there may be only 84 left." The chief thought for a moment and added, "Amand Star and our Zhi Yuan Star are dual-dimensional reference bodies, similar to the corresponding worlds from Earth in different dimensions, except that the corresponding world on Earth has not yet officially grown into a carrier of life." Gorlinton, fearing Xiao Jie and others might not understand, explained, "Dual-dimensional reference bodies are corresponding faces of two dimensional worlds, like the corresponding world from Earth when crossing dimensions. However, the corresponding world on Earth has not yet officially grown into a life carrier." Xiao Jie had already guessed this, so he wasn''t too concerned about Gorlinton''s explanation. He continued to ask the chief, "Why did the Morgaadans attack here then? Didn''t you say they already had enough squads? You said they have 84 people left, which means the 31 people I killed today came from Amand Star, right?" The chief replied, "Yes, the Morgaadans you killed were indeed one of the squads stationed on Amand Star. They attacked us because the key to activating the energy device on Amand Star was brought here by the last Amandian warriors. To secure the energy supply for their cross-dimensional army, they must obtain the key, which is why they attacked us." Xiao Jie, Master Wang, and the two five-dimensional beings were all excited by this revelation. Xiao Jie, who had been sitting with the demeanor of a divine son, also jumped up. The four of them joyfully embraced each other. It was like divine assistance. Since they didn''t understand Chinese, Master Wang directly told Xiao Jie, "Ask them for the key. As their divine son, whatever you say will be respected. Once we have the key, it doesn''t matter whether we can destroy the energy storage or not." Master Wang said this excitedly while winking at Xiao Jie and signaling with his eyes. Yuri and Gorlinton also looked eagerly at Xiao Jie. Tang Xiao Jie steadied his mind, sat back in his chair, and smiled broadly at the old chief, "Elder, what does the key look like? Can you give it to us? This is the best way to stop the Morgaadans from causing further destruction to other life forms in the universe." Initially, Xiao Jie felt it was a bit awkward to directly ask the old chief for the key, but after thinking it over, he realized that without being a bit thick-skinned, it would be hard to achieve their goal. Moreover, leaving such an important item with these people wasn''t very reassuring. So, he straightforwardly asked to see what their attitude would be. The old chief''s reaction surprised Xiao Jie and the others. After hearing Yuri''s translation, he was overjoyed, and even the five prominent Zhi Yuan warriors beside him were elated. The old chief, with great excitement, said to Xiao Jie, "Thank you, Son of God, for fulfilling our wish. This was originally meant to be offered to you. It is not only the key to the universal energy center device, but also a treasure that can transform your being to connect with the universal energy center. With it, you will become a mighty being with inexhaustible elemental power." His words were clearly filled with immense temptation. Xiao Jie didn''t fully understand the old chief''s meaning, but he was certain that he would get what he wanted.