Chapter 144
The scene fell silent as the trees shook uncontrollably. Then, a tremendous explosion occurred somewhere in the forest, at... Verdant Hill Terrace.
"This is endless, it's so annoying."
One wave subsides only for another to rise. Before Bai Jun could even think, he stomped through the ground and rushed back to Verdant Hill Terrace like lightning. What greeted his eyes was a scene of underworld messengers lying on the ground, surrounded by fire snakes, their menacing forms bursting with flames.
Bai Jun's gaze darted anxiously across the field, and his expression softened somewhat after confirming something.
For Bai Jun, his primary concern was Xue Yi Hanya Huo Huo and the others. Fortunately, they had built defensive fortifications thanks to their rich experience and were unharmed. Even Guinaifen and Sushang were safe under their protection.
Then, Bai Jun's gaze slowly shifted to the culprit who caused all of this.
An eyeball-shaped Suiyang detonated the core of the Form-Binding Evil-Warding Formation. With a huge explosion, it turned into Heavenly Fire, and then took advantage of the chaos to possess the body of the Underworld Messenger.
"Hehehe, hahaha~ That's why I said that Furynox is a complete idiot. He doesn't know where the true power of Suiyang comes from. He's arrogant, self-centered, and deserves to be smashed to pieces. But it's all for the best, it's made things much easier for me. However, I still want to thank all the judges for clearing obstacles for me and collecting the fragments of Suiyang."
The tender child enveloped by the blue flames transformed into a towering giant, standing tall on the earth!
His youthful appearance, so disproportionate to his size, might seem laughable, but the power contained within him is no joke. Unlike the Furynox who was forced to fight in two halves, he now possesses the full strength of Greater Suiyang, far surpassing the strength of the other half of Furynox.
"Cirrus? No wonder I smelled a familiar scent besides Furynox. So it was you, sneaking around near the Form-Binding Evil-Warding Formation just to do this stupid thing?"
Tail, who rushed back, immediately recognized the culprit's true identity, and Cirrus also recognized Tail at a glance.
"Ah, it's you," the most powerful fragment among the kin of "Ignamar," I remember you used to always boast of "Pride of Ignamar"? Look at you now, you look like a pathetic and pathetic fool, appearing before me to make me laugh to death?
The Cirrus high above looked down with pity at the Tail that floated in the air, no bigger than a football.
"The mountains will crumble, the seas will dry up, Suiyang will wait, waiting for the day he regains his freedom, and that day will eventually come. But you, my friend, you chose to submit to the despicable Xianzhou native, to kneel before a mere Foxkin. Hmph, as expected, even the most powerful fragment of 'Ignamar' is just a piece of trash after gaining superfluous emotions. Oh well, I was even planning to recruit you into the plan, but now it seems I can't count on a piece of trash like you."
Who are you calling trash?!
Hearing Tail contempt in the other's words, it finally bared its fangs, baring its claws and cursing at the other. However, Cirrus calmly looked down at its pathetic brethren with its chin lowered, as if it scorned everything about them.
"Enough! I don't want to waste my time on a piece of trash like you. Get lost."
Cirrus had lost patience. With a casual wave of his hand, the terrifying force unleashed a storm that blew the Tail dozens of meters away. Seeing this, Huo Huo shouted "Mr. Tail!" and ran over, barely managing to catch the Tail that was about to fall into the Form-Binding Evil-Warding Formation.
The annoying insects were cleared away, and a ten-meter-high Cirrus rose from the battlefield, while Bai Jun, who was only the size of an ant in front of him, stood there.
No matter who looked at it, they would only think that this was a battle with no suspense. Just considering the irreconcilable size and height, there was a gap that could never be bridged. However, even with such a huge advantage, Cirrus's face did not show the contempt he had shown when dealing with Tail. On the contrary, it was filled with an unprecedented seriousness.
It was as if the roles on the field had reversed; Bai Jun, calmly looking up at his opponent, was the one with the advantage, while Cirrus, looking down at his opponent, was the challenger.
However, it seems that this is indeed the case. Even Cirrus does not deny this, because it has already witnessed Bai Jun's strength. No Suiyang knows the strength of the person in front of it better than it. Even if it has absorbed all the nearby Suiyang and has a power far greater than Furynox, it still has little chance of winning against this silver-haired youth.
"I know you're strong. All the underworld officials and military officers around here bear my marks. I can easily replace their bodies if they break down. So what about you? Are you going to beat these poor souls to a pulp one by one? Their flesh and blood aren't like the immortal flames of Suiyang. Without my support, they'll die instantly, and you'll be the one killing them!"
Cirrus broke the silence first, explaining the cards he held in his hand.
"So what? If necessary, what harm is there in killing all the underworld messengers? Don't I find it ridiculous that you're threatening me with something like this? What makes you think I'd be interested in the life or death of other people?"
His deep blue eyes were devoid of any impurity, coldly rational to the point of rejecting all other superfluous emotions, as if he regarded everything as a bargaining chip. Bai Jun gave a disdainful sneer, his silver-white hair fluttering slightly in the scorching wind.
Cirrus hadn't expected Bai Jun's answer to be so cold and ruthless, without even the slightest hesitation. After all, in his observation, Bai Jun should have been the kind of overly kind person who couldn't bear to see others sacrifice innocently. In the end, Cirrus was completely wrong.
Bai Jun does indeed lend a helping hand to those in need, and he will do his best to save lives within his power. However, this kindness should not be interpreted as unconditional assistance or unrestrained goodwill.
On the contrary, Bai Jun is a selfish person. His kindness always leans towards those connected to him, and his assistance is only given to those who are in need and deserve help.
Faced with the situation before him, Bai Jun would never be confused; his answer would always be to solve the problem posed by the person who raised it.
In this respect, Cirrus had just stepped on Bai Jun's landmine, causing him to become extremely angry, which was very rare for him.
"Before I make a move, I'm quite curious about what makes you so bold as to appear before me. You could have just stayed hidden. Why did you have to act like a clown and make a fool of yourself in front of me? Or... do you really think you're a match for me?"
After saying this, Bai Jun calmly closed his eyes, and lowered his right hand, which had been resting on the hilt of the knife. His defenseless posture seemed to show no concern for the existence of Cirrus.
"Human victory or defeat is meaningless to me; we have our own rules! I must challenge the general of Luofu, seeking only a battle, not victory or defeat, that is enough. Whatever the cost, I don't care!"
Cirrus roared angrily and swung his fist with all his might at the ground where Bai Jun was standing.
Yes, Bai Jun is right. Cirrus has absolutely no chance of winning. Even if she manages to defeat Bai Jun, she won't be able to escape Fyxestroll Garden.
Why would someone choose to sacrifice their freedom and fight to the death when all they could have done was hide and escape Fyxestroll Garden after everyone else had left?
The answer lies in the dignity of the Suiyang itself.
The reason is to avenge Luofu General, to fulfill his oath, and to prove his existence, to prove that he is not a dim flame or a useless thing.
It must gain the power to confront Luofu General, and now is the only opportunity available. It must go all in, even if it means confronting Bai Jun.
If Cirrus succumbs to fear and returns home, no longer thinking of challenging Luofu General, then it can never be Cirrus again. This is not a joke in the literal sense; once it believes it has lost on a spiritual level, Cirrus's spirit will completely dissipate.
He will forever be bound by the inner fear that once succumbed to him.
After that, they would constantly make excuses for themselves and never dare to cross that barrier between themselves and the outside world again.
Once one chooses to submit, there is no way to recover. The so-called dignity of Suiyang is so fragile. It can even be said that Suiyang has become a pathetic slave to glory and dignity.
The rapidly swinging fist slammed into the ground, the powerful rumble of the earth seemingly telling Cirrus that his attack had not missed.
However, before Cirrus could even smile or feel a shred of relief, he clearly felt his fist rising higher and higher... no, rather, his fist, which he had thrown with all his might, was being easily blocked and was now being pushed backward little by little by Bai Jun.
This terrifying power emanated continuously from the tiny being before them, as if explaining to Cirrus that it wasn't that Bai Jun didn't dodge, but rather that Bai Jun simply couldn't be bothered to evade.
"How utterly boring! And what makes you think that possessing someone else's body will leave me helpless against you?"
With a gentle push from Bai Jun, Cirrus was thrown back dozens of meters as if struck by a violent impact. When he struggled to his feet, he met Bai Jun's gaze. Unlike the cold azure blue he had seen before, a golden brilliance filled part of Bai Jun's eyes.
No, that's not right, that's...
As a powerful and awe-inspiring force surged forth, Cirrus found herself unable to move under the gaze of those eyes. In the next instant, golden flames enveloped Cirrus's body, while the azure flames were completely consumed without any resistance.
There were no screams, no struggles, and Cirrus didn't even move. He just stared blankly at the golden flames on his body and Bai Jun's ever-increasing aura, until the blue flames covering the Netherworld Chariot completely disappeared. Cirrus didn't make a sound.
Having lost the power of Suiyang, the ten-meter-tall Netherworld Messenger quickly returned to its original size and fell from the sky. Bai Jun caught the falling Netherworld Messenger steadily, and when he opened his eyes again, his eyes had returned to normal.
"Surely nothing else will go wrong now?"
Bai Jun handed the unconscious underworld messenger to the others, shaking his head with a sigh. Using "the Favor of the Sun" was entirely an accident. In fact, he could have saved the messenger without injury by consuming the power of Cirrus, but he was a little angry just now, so he used his full power a bit.
But it's okay, at least the trouble is over, and from that perspective, it was all worth it.
In a corner unnoticed by Bai Jun, Tail was staring intently at his figure with the same piercing gaze as Cirrus, so intense that even Huo Huo was startled by the overly fiery look. And it wasn't just Tail; anyone with a discerning eye could have noticed that the restless Suiyang, who had been imprisoned in the formation, had inexplicably calmed down.
After dealing with the trouble caused by Cirrus, Bai Jun first sent Guinaifen and Sushang, who shouldn't have gotten involved in the first place, back to Exalting Sanctum. After settling them in properly, Bai Jun and Xue Yi returned to Fyxestroll Garden and began to busy themselves with taking care of and transporting the wounded, rebuilding the new formation used to restrain Suiyang... In short, there were things to do, and before they knew it, it was already past midnight.
The dust has settled... literally, the dust has settled. After a tortuous, noisy, and hectic night, we have finally arrived at the end of this supernatural story.
After settling things at Fyxestroll Garden, Bai Jun saw everyone else off, until he was alone in the quiet night.
But like most horror movies I've seen, the director always likes to leave a sequel in the middle... However, Bai Jun sincerely prays to God that there won't be any more sequels. He's already tired enough and just wants to go home and rest as soon as possible.
Suddenly, Bai Jun felt something gently tugging at his leg. Just as he was about to turn away, the corner of his Bai Jun twitched slightly. Then, he looked down helplessly at his feet and saw a small, blue flame, about the size of a small fire, flickering and making a small, sharp sound.
It was Cirrus again; he wasn't quite dead yet, and he actually stopped Bai Jun. Could it be that he was issuing a challenge to him?
Thinking of this, Bai Jun couldn't help but feel a deep respect and was impressed by Suiyang's awareness and determination.
"You're really something else..."
To show his respect, Bai Jun crouched down, preparing to take Cirrus's challenge seriously. Unexpectedly, Cirrus suddenly spoke, shouting loudly in a childlike voice:
"Father!!!"
"... ah?"
After a half-second of stunned silence, Bai Jun uttered the most shocking sound of the day.
PS:
I wrote 10,000 words today in a fit of rage, and although I wanted to pat my belly and brag a little, I'm completely exhausted now.
I'm taking leave at the beginning of the month because I need to handle some things these two days. So I'll be taking leave on March 1st. As for the 2nd, it depends on the situation. If there are no problems, I'll continue updating. If time is tight, I'll write another leave request.
On the other hand, I encountered some good news: my CET-4 (College English Test Band 4) score came through smoothly, so my registration fee wasn't wasted.
The bad news is that I failed the entrance exam, and my professor gave me a stern 20-minute lecture. On the last day of the week, Sunday, she ordered me to go to her office for a make-up class. Coincidentally, I also have a club activity on Saturday... Sigh, I'm sure many of you, especially college students, have experienced the miserable feeling of having all sorts of troubles piled up on a weekend. I won't go into too much detail or complain; there's not much to say, it's all part of life.
Also, the book club group and the full subscription group have been set up (although the side stories haven't been written yet...).
Book club group number: 760041961
The full subscription group information is in the book club's announcement; just remember to take a screenshot and contact the administrator.
Have a wonderful weekend!
I created a book club group
As the title suggests, I've created a book club group. Feel free to join if you want to chat. I'll also occasionally share some extra chapters and give out perks.
Book club 760041961
The group for book lovers who have subscribed to all books is listed in the announcement within the book lovers' group.
Everyone is familiar with the relevant rules and regulations, so I don't need to emphasize anything special. Just remember to participate in group chats; I'm tired of seeing empty chat rooms anymore...
Have a wonderful weekend!
Chapter 179 The Rise of an Aeon
The long history of the Xianzhou native Suiyang with their invasion.
Some scholars have previously suggested that the origins of Suiyang can be traced back to the early Amber Era. However, the specifics remain unknown, and perhaps only the most ancient beings within Suiyang know the answer. Unfortunately, the Xianzhou native currently seem unable to consult them.
As time went by, their original names gradually faded and were forgotten, and the Xianzhou native gave them the name "Suiyang".
In the long period that followed, other terms such as the Essence of Starfire, the Formless Demonic Fire, the Soul Possessor, the Formless One, Rootless Drifting Flame appeared, attempting to use figurative names to briefly describe the characteristics and historical origins of the Suiyang.
To put it in Cirrus's words, it's all wrong, and completely wrong.
Only a small number of ancient and powerful Suiyang can vaguely remember the true name of their race— Star Spirit, which was the name they were originally given.
Even though the passage of time has worn away Remembrance, Cirrus still witnessed through the Remembrance of "Ignamar" how glorious, powerful, and arrogant the Star Spirit were...
Witnessing the scattered and chaotic Star Spirit gradually gather into a whole under the great leader "Flint Emperor", witnessing them reach unprecedented glory under Flint Emperor's leadership, and then witnessing the Star Spirit sink into the quagmire of chaos and gradually head towards inevitable decline, the emotion called pain first surfaced in his heart.
Pain, resentment, frustration, humiliation, confusion, and above all, bewilderment.
Why have the Star Spirit fallen into their current miserable state?
At his peak, Flint Emperor clearly possessed power comparable to Aeon and would never easily lose to any being; this is an undeniable fact.
All the Star Spirit knew that the Flint Emperor was only one step away from becoming the legendary "Aeon," a being who seemed to possess a spirit, each with their own Path, able to freely travel between the stars, and wielding the immense energy to erase reality and create the world.
Once the Flint Emperor the Lord of Path, he will become one of the most powerful Aeon. Benefiting from the power of Path, the entire Suiyang race will also experience a qualitative leap, and at that time they will become one of the most powerful forces in the universe.
But why didn't the Flint Emperor ultimately become a guiding light for the Star Spirit?
Cirrus kept chewing on the Remembrance of "Ignamar," vaguely recalling that before being sealed away by the Xianzhou native, the Flint Emperor's answer to all his confusion and resentment was, "I am but a shell with empty power. An existence without will cannot become Aeon. The king who will rule all has not yet appeared. Wait patiently."
What is meant by "losing one's will"? And what is meant by "the king who rules over all"?
The answer that Flint Emperor left for all the Star Spirit was such a baffling one. This made Cirrus respect and admire Flint Emperor to the extreme, but at the same time hate this leader who did nothing and let the Suiyang split and decline like a puppet.
Even if they were unwilling, even if they were angry and wanted to question the Flint Emperor, the Star Spirit had to wait, just as Cirrus kept the oath between "Ignamar" and Luofu General.
Even though Cirrus realized that its defeat was inevitable, it was still grateful for this encounter. Its soul was extremely excited; struggle was the only way to overcome its hunger, and it would be even better to have an absolutely strong opponent. Even if it lost its life in the process, it would still have fulfilled a long-cherished wish. Cirrus had no reason to be afraid, nor any need to back down.
Because the Star Spirit are such simple, stubborn, and loyal fools.
Loyal to their leader and steadfast in their beliefs, even if the road ahead is pitch black, they will still flock to it. The "Ignamar" has now dissipated into countless fragments, but countless fragments will still inherit its will, desperately seeking and waiting for the king destined by the Flint Emperor.
Now, Cirrus finally understood what Flint Emperor had said back then. The scene that came into view, the "Sun" like a ray of light pierced through Cirrus's heart, was a golden flame that retrieved all the scenes, all the Remembrance, and all the emotions.
To awaken, to revive, to tremble.
Ahh, ahh!!
Yes, that's it, there's no mistake, that's it! That's the dream, the wish, the aspiration they've waited for so long, the one for which they've given everything!!!
That is the answer all Star Spirit have long sought: a truly great being capable of leading their race to glory!!!
The Cirrus finally replaced the "Ignamar" and finally found the so-called "destined king," focusing its attention on everything surrounding the "destined king."
The miniature stars formed by the spontaneous aggregation of the Suiyang are red and are called "Red Star." The one before us is the eternally burning "Sun," as dazzling and imposing as the Sun itself, seemingly constantly proclaiming its ultimate power and its fatal attraction to the Star Spirit...
It was as if this body was born solely for this purpose, its blood roaring, its soul surging, an unprecedented hunger awakening an incomparably powerful force, a feeling that even the former Flint Emperor could not give Cirrus.
Overwhelmed with joy, his entire body brimming with happiness even greater than his previous fighting spirit, Cirrus could not suppress his excitement and shouted, "Father!!!"
A bluish phosphorescence illuminated the vast night.
Behind the wispy clouds, the hazy moon casts a mysterious glow.