Chapter 89

Chapter 88

The Central Plains (中原天下).

Could the Central Plains be called the world for no reason?

Its vastness was so indescribable that it was called the world itself.

The Heavenly Way, which had traversed from Xinjiang to Hainan in just half a day, was his own achievement, yet he could hardly believe it.

It was something he had never attempted, or even imagined, in his long life.

No, it would have been impossible without the newly evolved demonic power.

After pouring almost all of his demonic power, he finally arrived in Hainan, but that madman (?) showed no sign of fatigue.

This was the first time he felt such a bitter sense of defeat.

Ji Tian Dacheng, feeling bitter, lowered his head weakly and gazed at Zhaohui.

“What exactly is that bizarre magical treasure, and why did you fly all the way to this distant Hainan? I’ve never heard of a magical treasure that can speak like a human.”

Zhaohui, who had been enjoying the sea breeze with his eyes closed, frowned.

“You were the one who asked for the demonic token.”

“No, what does that have to do with this suffering?”

“Monkey.”

His front paws folded politely of their own accord.

“Kiaaaak! Why is this hand of mine doing this!”

“It’s proof of the politeness engraved in the soul of the monkey clan. It’s like a child’s instinct to suckle from its mother, without anyone teaching it.”

“Damn, does that make any sense!”

Zhaohui squatted down and stared intently at the God Box.

“Is it still far?”

-It’s surprising. This is the first time I’ve encountered such unpolluted seawater.

Zhaohui tilted his head.

“Why is that a problem? Wouldn’t it be easier if it’s clean?”

-The absence of even ordinary synthetic materials like plastic is quite a problem. There are no other synthetic materials either.

He didn’t expect that clean seawater could be a problem.

It had been a long time since he had seen such a clear and clean sea, and he felt so good.

“So, how long will it take?”

-I am synthesizing various materials. I estimate it will take about 15 hours.

“Hmm, I see.”

Thus, Zhaohui and Ji Tian Dacheng waited silently for the God Box for a long time.

The next morning, the God Box finally produced a staff made of the powerful future material RY-10.

“Here, take it.”

“What, what is this?”

Zhaohui grinned.

“This is the demonic token I’m giving you. For a monkey, a staff is the best.”

Ji Tian Dacheng, holding the demonic token given by Zhaohui, was elated.

No matter how he swung it casually or performed staff techniques, the feel in his hands was always satisfying.

The perfect weight balance, neither too light nor too heavy, the appropriate length, and the simple yet sturdy appearance.

There was nothing he didn’t like about it.

But there was one more surprising point in Zhaohui’s explanation.

“Really, can you change the size of this staff?”

“RY-10 is called a miraculous material for a reason. It can change not only the size but also the basic properties of the material, such as hardness and tensile strength.”

“How, how is that possible?”

Is that even possible?

According to Zhaohui’s description, this staff was almost like a living organism.

“Once you input your genetic code, an account will be created immediately.”

“Genetic code? Account?”

Zhaohui sighed and pointed to the end of the staff with his gaze.

“Can’t you see a transparent film there? Drop your blood on it.”

“Huh? Why my blood?”

“Don’t want to? Then give it back.”

“No! I’ll do it!”

Woooom—

The transparent film, recognizing Ji Tian Dacheng’s blood, disappeared as if it had never existed.

Immediately, Ji Tian Dacheng could feel an unknown force trying to connect him with the staff.

“What, what is this!”

“It’s created. Now, the owner of this staff will never change.”

Ji Tian Dacheng, staring blankly at the staff.

He couldn’t believe it even when he thought, ‘Could it really get longer?’

“Wow!”

Wooom—

The staff, wrapped in a beam of light with a strange noise, stretched out like a noodle.

The long staff, reaching to the sky, even pierced through the cloud layer.

“What, this can’t be…!”

He couldn’t believe it even with his own eyes.

“I’ve never heard of such a magical treasure in my long life. A staff that can change its length at will (如意棒).”

“So, it’s the Ruyi Staff.”

“…Ruyi Staff?”

Zhaohui smiled and replied.

“It’s perfect for a monkey.”

“…”

Thinking of Ji Tian Dacheng, enhanced by the neural link chip, wielding this crude staff on the battlefield made Zhaohui feel good.

“Now, since you’ve received the demonic token, you’re under my command.”

“Hmm. I understand.”

“Tsk! Your tone.”

“Hic! I understand, sir.”

“Say it properly.”

“A, I understand, sir!”

Zhaohui’s sharp gaze turned north.

“Return to Xinjiang. And find the headless human.”

Although he had already given the task to Yajie, Zhaohui was still uneasy.

If he left the rampaging Harvester unchecked, the damage to the Central Plains would increase exponentially.

“Not now?”

“Yes.”

Look at this crazy master!

Having flown to this distant Hainan with all his might, Ji Tian Dacheng had not a single drop of demonic power left.

But who was Zhaohui?

He was a person who couldn’t be unaware of such a situation.

“God Box. How’s the one I asked you to make?”

-It’s already completed.

Indeed, the God Box, which had been printing with a bright light just a moment ago, had stopped.

“It looks ordinary.”

A means of transportation that revolutionized the quality of life in the future world.

By finally completing the theoretical anti-gravity device, humanity created a remarkable means of transportation called the C.G., or Cloud Griiler.

This small sphere was it.

The God Box had recreated the Dirty Flying, the masterpiece of the Deniac Corporation, in a form that was easier to produce.

“Get in.”

Ji Tian Dacheng, following Zhaohui’s gaze, approached the small sphere with a blank expression.

“What, what is this?”

“You’ll know when you get in.”

As Ji Tian Dacheng climbed into the small sphere with a blank expression, a faint, misty ether rose around it.

This mysterious ether was the infinite power that made the dream of anti-gravity possible for humanity.

It was as if he was riding on a cloud.

“What kind of magical treasure is this?”

“The best mount created by humans.”

“A horse? You mean I should ride this like a horse?”

Reading Ji Tian Dacheng’s will through telepathic waves, the sphere immediately increased its output to the maximum.

“Eek? Aaaaaah!”

Kuwa—

The sand on the beach was violently flipped by a strong shockwave, and Ji Tian Dacheng had already become a black dot, disappearing from Zhaohui’s sight.

“The Cloud-Riding Technique is also essential for a monkey.”

Zhaohui, enjoying the sea breeze and the scenery of the clear South China Sea.

* * *

Unable to wait for the constellations to break the ‘Law of Rules,’ Zhaohui immediately arrived at Tangjiata.

It was almost impossible for the Tang Family to single-handedly block the transformation of a battalion into a group of awakened individuals by the Sichuan General’s Office.

The sharp, fortress-like towers along the hills.

The walls surrounding Tangjiata like a castle.

Under those walls, the members of the Dark King’s organization were hiding secretly.

The stern aura of the Tang Family’s warriors, who were surrounding Tangjiata without a single gap, was no different from the past.

The only difference was that the number of warriors guarding Tangjiata had increased significantly.

The tension in the Tangjiata area had reached a suffocating level due to the Sichuan General’s Office’s de facto declaration of war.

Breaking this tension was none other than Zhaohui.

The Tang Family’s warriors, who had been protecting the family with a bone-cutting determination, all widened their eyes.

A man slowly descending from the distant sky.

This man, who had rendered their impenetrable defense meaningless, was looking around casually and speaking in a blunt tone.

“Have you all been well?”

Grinning—

The man’s smile, shining white in the early morning twilight, was a familiar presence to the Tang Family’s warriors.

“Xiaojianxin!”

“I greet Young Master Zhaohui!”

The Tang Family’s warriors, forgetting their mission, rushed over with bright faces.

He was the person who had completely transformed the culture of Sichuan and brought great wealth to the Tang Family.

“Haha! Even the elders are here!”

An elder, who had been hiding in the shadow of the wall, slowly revealed himself. It was Tang Renshang.

Indeed, it was him.

The freedom from the authority of being an elder of the family.

The Tang Family’s warriors were performing their mission alongside the family’s elder, who was once the closest to the legend of the Absolute Poison Master.

The morale that arose from such a thrilling situation was immeasurable.

The elder, who rolled on the ground with the young warriors of the family at the lowest level.

“Indeed, it’s worthy of an elder.”

Tang Renshang’s face, looking at Zhaohui, became benevolent.

“I welcome you to Tangjiata, Xiaojianxin.”

He was a precious person who had made him forget his grudge against the family.

If it weren’t for Zhaohui, he would never have dreamed of returning to Tangjiata.

Zhaohui’s gaze turned to the outside of Tangjiata’s walls.

“I saw them setting up camp at the foot of the hills. It seems the army is not far from advancing.”

Zhaohui had clearly seen it.

The flag bearers at the forefront of the formation checking their flags.

When the flag bearers check their flags, it means the army is not far from advancing.

It meant that the disaster about to befall Tangjiata was not far away.

Conflicted emotions and a glimmer of hope crossed Tang Renshang’s face.

“Could you have come to help our Tang Family?”

Zhaohui nodded without hesitation.

“Of course. I will show them the disaster that breaking the long-standing mutual principles between the martial world and the government can bring.”

“Ooh! Xiaojianxin!”

“Indeed, our Eight Seat!”

In an instant, the entire outer courtyard of Tangjiata was enveloped in a fierce cheer.

The news of Xiaojianxin’s participation was like rain on parched earth.

The Tang Family’s warriors, who were already on high alert, let out such a fierce cheer that the family’s elders and leaders quickly arrived at the scene.

“Xiaojianxin!”

“Chairman Zhao!”

Led by the family head, Dragon of Solitude Tang Wuhu, the leaders representing each hall and party of the Tang Family surrounded Zhaohui, expressing their joy.

Tang Wuhu, with a beaming face, grabbed Zhaohui’s shoulders.

“From the atmosphere, it seems you’ve decided to help our Tang Family! Thank you! Really, thank you!”

The hardships Tang Wuhu had endured were evident from his haggard appearance.

Zhaohui, looking at the Tang Family’s wise men who were looking to him for hope, was confident that his plan had been a complete success.

“That doesn’t mean I’m going to take the lead.”

“Hmm?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Zhaohui’s reputation, which had already spread throughout Sichuan for overwhelming tens of thousands of martial alliance members alone, was well-known.

The cheers of the Tang Family’s warriors were undoubtedly directed at the absolute martial prowess of Xiaojianxin, who was said to surpass the Three Gods (三神).

“I am a merchant who cannot afford to offend the General’s Office.”

Tang Wuhu’s face crumpled.

Zhaohui, inevitably revealing his merchant side, made Tang Wuhu’s entire body boil with anger.

“Does it look like our Tang Family is in a position to be toyed with by your tricks?”

No matter how much he was a martial artist and a merchant, to play such word games in a situation where the fate of the Tang Family was at stake.

Just a moment ago, he had talked about punishing the General’s Office and acted like the embodiment of the Eight Seat, but now he was acting like a different person, making it impossible to grasp his hidden intentions.

Zhaohui, with a calm expression, rummaged through his clothes and took out dozens of neural link chips, handing them to Tang Wuhu.

“Take them.”

“Hmm?”

Tang Wuhu, frowning deeply.

He could not easily accept Zhaohui’s sudden action, encountering the strange object for the first time.

At that moment.

Kuquququququ—

A massive tremor enveloped Tangjiata.

The five great battalions of the Sichuan General’s Office had started their advance.

Zhaohui, startled, looked at the Tang Family’s warriors preparing for battle and then turned to Tang Wuhu.

“Can you see their vanguard?”

Tang Wuhu, clenching his teeth, observed the vanguard of the massive army charging towards Tangjiata.

The emotion in his eyes was surprisingly fear.

“What are those monstrous creatures?”

The monstrous battalions advancing fiercely.

Gigantic like giants, enveloped in flames, summoning lightning at will, and moving as fast as lightning.

These monstrous creatures had caused the repeated annihilation of all of Tangjiata’s reconnaissance teams.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. That’s the Tang Family’s way.”

Zhaohui, grinning, handed the neural link chip to Tang Wuhu.

“Let’s become monsters too, Dragon of Solitude.”

* * *

Tang Wuhu, staring blankly at the neural link chips given by Zhaohui.

Tang Wuhu immediately recognized that this small object was the Dharma Sutra, which had caused chaos in the Jiangbei martial world.

This tiny object was a cursed item that could bring about the annihilation of the Central Plains.

The one who had warned about the dangers of the Dharma Sutra was none other than Xiaojianxin Zhaohui.

“Why…?”

Tang Wuhu, with an expression of incomprehension, was urgently called out to by Zhaohui.

“So? Is there any other way to resolve the crisis facing the Tang Family now?”

Kuquququququ—

The heavy shockwaves, shaking the ground incessantly, were a testament to their immense power.

The monstrous human weapons advancing faster than warhorses.

The storm-like momentum made Tang Wuhu feel as if he was suffocating.

“The family head, approaching the Absolute Realm, is a master of mental energy and can survive, but what about the other family members?”

Tang Wuhu, grinding his lips tightly at Zhaohui’s painful point.

Indeed, even if they managed to block them somehow, the expected damage would be too great.

The Dharma Sutra (達磨眞經).

Originally, it was called the most valuable treasure of the martial world.

Tang Wuhu, staring intently at the neural link chip, bit his lip as if he had made a decision.

“I will trust you.”

No matter how cunning Xiaojianxin might be, he was not a liar. Tang Wuhu decided to trust the relationship of trust built through long-term transactions with Zhaohui.

“General!”

Calling the general, Tang Wuhu immediately selected the Tang Family’s elite, the Twelve Poison Fangs (毒牙十二手), and the top forty experts of the Dragon’s Horn.

“What should we do now?”

Zhaohui, silently observing the Tang Family’s experts lined up orderly in front of Tang Wuhu.

He soon picked up a neural link chip and stood in front of Tang Shangqian, the first of the Twelve Poison Fangs.

“…”

Even as Xiaojianxin attached a strange object to his forehead, Tang Shangqian showed no signs of tension, only a fiercely cold gaze.

“Suck!”

The feeling of something microscopic sweeping through his mind, like a