"What a Tremendous Blessing!"

"Oh? Drinking in Toshiro Hitsugaya?"

Yosuke chuckled, "You guys wait here, I'll go get Kirin (beer)."

The three of them drank ice-cold beer, which slightly calmed Fujimiya down. Meanwhile, Jingwen had somehow activated the True Magic Projection again, and coincidentally, the scene jumped to a tavern.

Amidst the lively and noisy music, Farrell and Yosuke sat at the same table. The girl seemed to have injured her hand, which was wrapped in white bandages, but she showed no pain on her face because as soon as she opened her mouth, Yosuke would feed her with extra care.

Judging from the blush on the girl's face, the happy curve of her lips, and the tenderness in her eyes... she probably wished time could stand still at this moment.

Seeing this scene, on the other side of the hall, Iori and the Elf maiden sat facing each other at a table. The slightly drunk blonde girl gritted her teeth and raised her wine glass.

In another timeline, watching the flashback scene, Fujimiya Sumika, stimulated by Farrell's blissful appearance, also made the same move as the Elf maiden, raising a beer can—

Thump!

"Hurry up and start dating me!"

—A resonance that transcends time and space.

Chapter 398 "What an incredible blessing!"

Iori wondered if Yosuke had lost his mind, or if he possessed some kind of slow-witted aura that could entangle him and those around him in a quagmire that resembled a romantic comedy.

Spending too much time with him always gives me the feeling of being mentally challenged... Because of some concerns, Iori quickly separated from Yosuke Isashizaki again. Anyway, they weren't going to act together anyway. It's just that after this, even the number of times they contacted each other regularly decreased.

Out of interest Iori traveled to the Sealed City in the west, the place where Yosuke broke the barrier. He was not there to cause trouble, but to hide his whereabouts and cross the border to reach the desolate land inhabited by Mythical Class magical beast.

Cyclops, Storm Dragon, Phoenix... These monsters, which only appear in fairy tales to scare children, are not uncommon here. Each one has the strength to rival an entire legion. Even a hero-level adventurer like the Elf maiden can only deal with a few at most. Once surrounded, she still has little chance of survival.

This is why the boundaries of human kingdoms stop here.

If it weren't for the powerful True Magic left by the Ancient civilization protecting the Sealed City, and the natural geographical barriers on both sides, these behemoths would definitely have brought devastating disasters to human society!

Incidentally, if one were to conduct in-depth research into the history of this world, such as by excavating numerous labyrinthine ruins like Iori did, one would discover that the prosperity of "Ancient civilization" far surpassed that of the present, making it completely incomprehensible how they perished.

Iori wasn't really interested in being an archaeologist; he only went into the wilderness to find targets that were large enough, strong enough, or simply put, thick-skinned and tough enough to practice on.

The various ways to use powers, the coordination between different powers, the fusion of divine artifacts and powers, and how to maximize one's combat power by using the "Third Magic"...

He had plenty of time, and he was so engrossed in the fulfilling feeling of constantly increasing his power and gaining more control over himself that he completely forgot about the passage of time. Days and nights passed in this way, and the giant beasts of the wilderness had long realized that they were not at the top of the food chain, and began to clumsily learn how to survive like the weak with their tails between their legs...

If the humans of this world had the courage to cross the barrier and venture into the depths of the boundless wilderness, they would be shocked to discover a forbidden zone, like a monster graveyard, filled with all sorts of corpses.

Those corpses may not be as precious as the Magic Poison Dragon, but the materials they can be decomposed into are enough to make legendary weapons. Yet they are carelessly discarded here. The cuts, burns, and holes on them tell the story of the desperate battles they experienced in their lives.

No giant beast dared to approach Jin. Even though that person never appeared again, fear was etched into their souls. Over time, this place became the only safe zone in the wilderness, nurturing countless weak creatures.

Upon returning to Campione!, Iori didn't continue his arduous training. Instead, he relaxed and took it easy, spending his days leisurely waiting for news at the manor, occasionally going fishing. In Alice's and the others' eyes, he hadn't left at all; only his demeanor and appearance seemed to have changed slightly after one night... But this was quite normal for Campione! full of possibilities, nothing strange about it.

"... I won't give you a chance."

Iori looked up at the clear blue sky and smiled knowingly.

Perhaps realizing that she was powerless to restrain Iori, the Goddess of Fate could no longer pretend to be indifferent. After his return, the oppressive feeling from the Nether intensified, as if a pair of eyes were watching him from behind at all times.

However, no matter how fierce the rabbit's gaze was, it could not put any pressure on the tigers and wolves.

Iori has now integrated all his abilities. Although he has not gained any new powers, his combat ability has reached a new level. It is wishful thinking for the Goddess of Fate to deal with him.

In "Campione!," the power levels of demon kings and gods are generally on the same level, with some being slightly superior but rarely resulting in an absolute crushing defeat. For example, when Tony the King of Swords first became Campione!, he was able to hold his own against the veteran demon king Voban, and although Voban was unhappy, he was ultimately unable to do anything to him.

Increasing powers will enhance the strength of Campione!, but there are only a few that are compatible, and often it only makes up for weaknesses without providing a qualitative improvement.

—Only Iori defies common sense.

The World-Saving Divine Blade unifies all steel, the Third Magic Infinite Magic, and the Art Style Value that can be increased without limit—all these Jiachi allow him to gain far more from slaying gods than ordinary Campione!, and he will not encounter any invisible ceiling.

The Goddess of Fate may have initially regarded Iori as an excellent successor to the Last King, but she would never have imagined that Iori would be so powerful and that his rate of progress would be so astonishing!

Now they want to turn against each other...

But it's not her fault. After all, she's a goddess with limited autonomy who needs to follow the Rules, so it's inherently difficult for her to deal with someone like Iori, who's like a malignant bug.

Everything is ready now, except for the final push!

But what Iori never expected was that the "East Wind" would soon arrive in Britain, and the true nature of this wind was an unexpected and important figure—

"It's been a long time, War King Iori."

Dressed in a sharp outfit, resembling an ancient knight-errant, Luo Hao clasped his hands in a salute. "Having weathered many storms, I have finally returned to this world, and can now put an end to the World War I of that year."

The girl's appearance remained unchanged, still radiating charm and possessing unparalleled beauty, but her spirit and energy had undergone a significant transformation.

Because of her years of seclusion, she used to have an "inhuman" sense of detachment. Although she was known as the Wuxia King, she no longer had much of a righteous spirit. Instead, she developed in a domineering and detached direction, which was exactly the opposite of "heroism".

Now, she has gained a lot of popularity, just like a fairy descending from the heavens to the mortal world. From her clothes to her eyes and expression, she exudes a free and unrestrained spirit.

"Luo Hao?"

Iori stood on the edge of a cliff by the sea, with Alice and Keina serving him. The sudden appearance of the Wuxia King made him look incredulous.

"Regardless of how you survived... back then?"

"Many years ago, you and I fought a great battle in Japan, and I was unfortunately defeated—"

"A narrow defeat?"

"Cough!"

Luo Hao said solemnly, "Back then, I was thrown into a spacetime turbulence and was severely injured. I was powerless to resist and could only use the 'Turtle Breathing Technique' to silently circulate the [Great Vajra Divine Power] to preserve my heart meridian while in a state of suspended animation."

Later, with the help of a benefactor in the Yomi/Netherworld, I escaped the turbulent currents and traveled to another time and space, enduring countless tribulations before finally returning to this world!

"Seeing that you are even more shrewd than before, it seems that you have turned misfortune into a blessing."

Iori asked curiously, "Any new powers?"

"Of course we do! When we see people suffering, we righteous men will certainly draw our swords to help!"

"So, do you want revenge now?"

Iori smiled.

Upon hearing this, Alice and Keina tensed up immediately.

"I am not a foolish person who cannot see the immensity of heaven and earth. Yan Yuan once said, 'The higher you look up, the more lofty it seems.' I also share this sentiment."

Although I have a few more powers to assist me, I don't think I'm much better than I was back then, which shows I've just been working in isolation. Even now, I have no chance of winning against you.

Luo Hao clasped his hands and bowed his head. "I lost the battle back then, and I still accept defeat wholeheartedly to this day!"

Iori didn't expect her to admit defeat so readily. "You seem to have changed a lot?"

"In the past, I thought that the world was infinite and I was unique, so I didn't need to pay attention to worldly affairs. Everyone else in the world was inferior to me, so I only needed to focus on myself."

But I later realized that this was actually like drawing a line in the sand, creating a constraint for myself.

True strength lies not in self-restraint, but in having nothing to fear or refuse!

What good is being obsessed with winning and losing? It can't change the difference between the strong and the weak. Only by acknowledging our own weakness can we become stronger. Only by knowing our own shortcomings can we make courageous progress!

Therefore—

Luo Hao stepped forward, looking at Iori with eager eyes. "Please take me as your apprentice, Master Iori!"

"... Would you be accepted as my disciple?"

Iori felt a sense of absurdity. "I have nothing to teach you, and you're much older than me."

"Everyone has their own expertise, and those who are skilled in their field come first; what does age matter?"

As the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Luo Hao was proficient in various Daoist arts and martial arts. He was well-versed in many things and did not feel there was anything wrong with having another master, even if they were once rivals.

"If it's a matter of social class... then how about you marry me?"

"?"

Alice other two girls tilted their heads, unable to keep up with this unexpected turn of events.

A Campione! proposing to another Campione!? And it's Luo Hao, a hermit-like female Daoist?

Isn't this world a little too crazy?!

"Sorry, your ranking is a bit low."

Iori shook her head and said seriously, "There are no vacancies at the moment."

Well, Alice was even more speechless now.

"Pity!"

Luo Hao appeared slightly embarrassed, but quickly regained her composure.

As a woman born in the Qing Dynasty and raised in a security escort agency, she was actually a rather traditional woman at heart.

On the one hand, she felt that lifelong fidelity and mutual support between husband and wife were normal, but on the other hand, she also felt that the husband must be stronger than the wife.

She acted impulsively just now, but felt regretful after being rejected— Iori was indeed the Isshin to.

The glory of that World War I back then still occasionally comes to Luo Hao's mind in her dreams... and Iori's appearance is also very much to her liking.

"I have already returned to Mount Lu and heard that you are searching for other Campione!. In order to settle the matter from back then and to atone for my sins, I have come to inquire about your whereabouts."

Luo Hao composed himself and said, "On the other hand, I would also like to introduce you to someone. It was she who saved me during the time-space turbulence in the Yomi/Netherworld."

"Oh?"

Iori narrowed his eyes, realizing that he hadn't noticed Luo Hao's appearance earlier. He immediately understood that this was not something that could be achieved with a sophisticated concealment technique; it was probably a spacetime ability that could produce such an effect.

Who is it?

"Nice to meet you, my young compatriot, my brother... I am Aisha. It was not I who saved my sister (Luo Hao). I just met her when we were lost and we helped each other out."

A girl wearing a headscarf and a gorgeous dress, with the demeanor of a priestess, appeared out of the void without warning. Her skin was slightly dark, but it could not hide her beautiful face. She had a unique beauty that was distinctly Eastern, but judging from her race, she seemed to be of mixed race.

Alice's mouth gaped slightly, revealing a look of astonishment, while Iori pondered the name carefully, a joyful smile spreading across her face.

"I've searched high and low without finding it... Madam Aisha, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Aizen — Iori Aizen."

In a penthouse suite at a luxury hotel on the US West Coast, Iori, who had booked the entire hotel and had been staying there for three days, welcomed several uninvited guests today.

"Hey hey, long time no see, bro~"

As if he had picked up some bad habit, Tony immediately made a hip-hop style gesture, but when he didn't see Iori respond, he sat down on the sofa with a bored expression.

"I rushed over as soon as I received your message. I had already hooked the Marquis, but now I'm out of luck. I don't know if I can lure him out again next time."

"Hmph, you brat who hasn't even grown up yet dares to speak so arrogantly here. I have never been fooled by your clumsy acting skills. I just want to carry out a revenge war, so I'm just going along with it."

A torrential rain began to fall from the sky, and Marquis Voban, dressed in a black overcoat, stood out of nowhere outside the window, his wolf-like, eerie green eyes inspiring fear.

Boom--!

The bulletproof glass, strong enough to withstand large-caliber rifles, shattered easily. The Marquis made no move; with just a thought, he blasted it apart with wind pressure exceeding the limit, and then entered the room with the wind.

At the same time, the glass shards, the rain, the gale... all the fluctuations stopped in an instant. A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, almost transcending the constraints of time and space, and entered the room ahead of the Marquis in Bleach of divine speed.

In the blink of an eye!

An elegant young figure then appeared.

"That's rude."

Iori slightly raised her hand, and the glass shards that were supposed to leave the room in a mess, as well as every drop of water, seemed to flow backward along their trajectory as if time had reversed.

In that brief Flash Step, it seemed as if nothing had happened; there wasn't a single raindrop inside. The only difference was that the floor-to-ceiling windows had been transformed into tastefully pieced-together fragments, much like the dome of a church.

"Exquisite control of force."

Luo Hao pushed open the door and entered. "His grasp of 'wind' surpasses that old bastard Voban, and as for his calculation ability to completely control each fragment, that guy can't even come close!"

"Luo Hao!"

Voban looked at him coldly. "I thought you were dead."

"Oh!"

Luo Hao glared at him coldly, "Old fool, do you want to test the power of my palm technique again?"

"Alright, everyone, let's not be so tense. Let's hear what our host Brother Iori, has to say."

Lady Aisha seemed to have been there all along, yet also seemed to have just arrived. The moment she spoke, Tony, Voban, and the Black Prince all turned their heads in surprise.