AZI Volume 1 Chapter 26

"Well, hurry the hell up then."

Getting off the phone, Ye Chen who had just contacted GC012's main command tower drops the device into the cup holder.

"What did they say?"

"Same old BS about how it would take time to get people here."

"Any regrets on taking this task up?"

"…"

Towards Li Xue's question, Ye Chen can't help but wince.

Indeed, had he not taken this task up, or if he had performed a proper investigation ahead of time into this patrol zone, they wouldn't have had the chance to encounter that thing.

"Ai, guess I was in far too great of a rush. New place, new rules, new crap to get used to."

Maintaining the speed of the truck, Ye Chen and the others headed for the next patrol area.

...…

"…"

Glancing back behind him, Long Hua can't help but notice that the steel hound is starting to grow larger in size—making it capable of covering greater distances with each leap.

At the same time, all the damage it had sustained during its exchange with everyone else had already vanished.

(The red mist that appears during stage two…)

Although Long Hua has never seen or fought an Apotheosized Sinner until today, he has nevertheless read some research articles about them during his time spent in S09.

"Hm?"

Looking up at the skies and into the far distance, Long Hua sees a gear rotating faster than the others.

If it is an ordinary animal that is being transported into this realm, then the gears wouldn't be spinning as fast as it is doing so right now.

(What is up with today? An Apotheosized Sinner and now an Immortal is about to descend. I've basically got the entire threat to humanity package here.)

Thinking for a bit, a smile appears on Long Hua's face as an idea pops into his head.

(That Immortal should be able to handle this thing better than me.)

Having a direction on where to go now, Long Hua sends one of his serpents to the front.

With it biting onto a piece of rubble firmly, he begins to retract it causing his body to be pulled forward.

Maintaining this method of movement, Long Hua heads for the area that is directly beneath the rotating gear.

...…

*…!* beneath a rotating gear, a pillar of white light descends, and from within this pillar, a figure—dressed in white Han robes, emerges from within.

Held in the Immortal's right hand is a sword that measures at three feet in length with a taotie patterned handguard. Attached to its pommel is a decorative white tassel.

(So this is the Lěng Bīng Realm?)

Looking at the barren landscape that surrounds him, the black-haired Immortal, Huāng Wú smirks with contempt, as he stands above a swirling platform of invisible energy to take in the scenery.

As the pillar of white light behind his back dissipates fully, Huang Wu is just about to take a single step forward, but—

(Hm?)

A figure dressed in black leaps towards him from the ground, and following behind this figure, is another figure, which turns out to be a steel hound—emanating red mist from its joints!

(Two weapon spirits?)

Seeing the two aforementioned weapon spirits, the smile of contempt on Huang Wu's face widens, as he takes a step forward.

...…

(Fast.)

As the Immortal approaches him in less than the time it would take to blink, Long Hua narrows his eyes, and before the Immortal could draw their sword, Long Hua reaches his right hand out and presses them by the shoulder.

Using the Immortal as a piece of footing, Long Hua leaps forward while tossing the aforementioned Immortal towards the steel hound that had been a thorn by his side.

...…

(This bastard!)

Realizing that he is being used as a tool by the figure in black, rage flares within Huang Wu's heart, but right now he can only choose to focus on the steel hound that is approaching him with its claws lunged outwards.

*Scrrrr…!* drawing out his sword with a blade that is etched with the image of a kūnpéng divine beast in flight, Huang Wu slashes at the steel hound and sends it falling towards the ground.

In the same instance, Long Hua lands on top of a building with half of its rooftop missing.

"…"

Looking down at his right hand that had touched the Immortal, Long Hua couldn't help but frown in confusion.

(Strange… What kind of feeling is this? Ling…- Spirit Qi…?)

The term rolls off Long Hua's tongue with a strange sense of familiarity.

(Sit in lotus posture. Eyes shut, clear your mind of all thoughts, breath lightly, feel the spirit Qi that dwells in all of nature.)

A strict voice speaks within Long Hua's mind, instructing him.

"…"

*Thud.* hearing this strict voice, Long Hua instinctively folds his legs and assumes a lotus seating posture while closing his eyes.

Rather quickly, he clears his head of all thoughts and adjusts his breathing.

(Spirit Qi, dwells in all of nature.)

Leaving everything to instinct, Long Hua attempts to capture the flow of spirit Qi that is in the air.

In the same instance—

(Over 3,000 Daos to choose from and walk through; not one is more superior than the other—for there exists only what's the most suitable for the individual.)

The same voice that had instructed him speaks once more.

(Cultivate not the Dao, but the heart—for the Dao is within your heart.)

(With the flesh and blood body of a mortal, challenge the natural orders of life. Even if you must burn yourself to ashes, you must transmit your message of not wanting to be confined by the natural orders to the law makers above. That is what it means to cultivate; that is what it means to be a cultivator.)

(The Heavens is a furnace, what makes it impossible for the human body to be the same?)

(Five great elements emerge from the depths of the Earthen realms, their names are metal, wood, water, fire, and the earth itself. Absorb any one of them and you attain a foundation to build upon. Absorb all five, you perfect the grand circles of mortal realm cultivation and ascend to the basic realms of immortality.)

(What is it my foolish disciple? You say, the fortune was taken by someone else? So what? The many missed opportunities that you fail to grasp in life are missed because the best choice that is exclusively yours is always meant to be last.)

"…"

Hearing this voice—that is at times gentle, at times strict, but at all times caring—Long Hua can't help but smile, as the world of darkness that he sees through his mind's eye transforms.

At this time, thin strands of spirit Qi are scattered throughout the air.