Chapter 159 Dragon 1
The unknown, high-level enemy never reappeared.
Perhaps he teleported himself to the Zhu family mansion, intending to take Zhu Shi's grandmother's life—a possibility I ruled out during the wait. My embers still lingered at the Zhu family mansion; I could sense movements there at any time. He didn't appear there either.
It seems he escaped using "Shadow Teleportation." Thinking about it briefly, that's the only thing he can do right now. His speed and strength are inferior to mine in every way, and his skills and experience are gradually losing their effectiveness during the battle. His final chance of victory relies on the portal armor unilaterally accumulating damage to my soul.
If even the portal armor is at risk of being breached, it can be said that from this moment on, he has already been defeated in effect. The consequence of continuing to fight is nothing more than "being burned to death by me immediately" or "being burned to death by me a little while later".
That being said, I'm still somewhat dissatisfied with the outcome of this battle. It's not just that I didn't take the enemy's life, but also that my method of deciphering the enemy's mechanics was rather lazy—pushing one's limits in battle and forcibly solving the opponent's puzzles with overwhelming power is certainly a viable strategy; however, from another perspective, it's like facing an unsolvable knot and ultimately choosing to cut it with a knife. While it may be a form of wisdom, it also reveals an implication of giving up the challenge.
Of course, I also wished I could use my wits to outsmart my opponent's trump card, just like the protagonist in a superpowered comic. Wasn't there a way to break through that portal armor from a technical standpoint? I pondered this repeatedly. This kind of thinking might not yield any fruitful results, but simply contemplating a formidable foe was enough to invigorate me.
However, more important to me than cracking the portal armor is finding a way to prevent my opponent from escaping. I plan to kill him the next time I encounter him, but it would be difficult if he used the same method to escape again. That won't do.
Furthermore, I did not come away empty-handed in this battle.
I put away the super fireball in my palm, and then raised my hand again. Some objects in the distance moved toward me at high speed.
It was the severed arm left behind from that Great Completion level enemy just moments before I burned him to a crisp. Although I had blasted it into pieces, my embers still remained inside. Under the manipulation of what seemed like telekinesis, the embers inside pulled up all the pieces of flesh and blood, gathering them high in the sky where I was.
Then, like stacking building blocks, the pile of flesh and blood fragments were barely pieced together to form the shape of the right arm, which still had many charred and pitted areas.
Giving this to Asao might yield some clues that can be used to trace the enemy, at least to figure out who the enemy is.
And just over ten minutes later, I learned who the enemy was.
Unexpectedly, it wasn't Ma Zao who told me the enemy's true identity, but Lu Youxun.
-
After my battle with the Great Completion level enemy ended, Zhu Shi and Lu Youxun arrived at the vicinity of the Zhu family mansion.
Even I can sense the magical energy fluctuations of a Great Completion level cultivator from over ten kilometers away, so these two were naturally no exception. Not only them, but all the demon hunters in Saltwater City likely sensed the magical energy fluctuations emanating from my battle with the enemy.
I teleported myself outside the Zhu family mansion and exited my fire elemental form. Ma Zao was obediently waiting outside the iron gate as I had instructed, while Zhu Shi and Lu Youxun ran over from a distance. Zhu Shi immediately asked me what had happened. I led them to the ruins of the collapsed Zhu family villa and told them everything that had happened to me.
Zhu Shi's grandmother was resting beside the ruins when Zhu Shi ran to her side. Lu Youxun told me about what had happened between him and Zhu Shi. They were submitting an application at the Luoshan office, and before they could get the "tool to bear the burden of the soul in place of the user," they sensed the magical fluctuations coming from this side.
Ma Zao could determine that the source of the magical fluctuations was at the Zhu family residence, and Zhu Shi was even more certain of it. She immediately put aside her application and rushed to the Zhu family residence. Logically speaking, Lu Youxun should have stayed there to continue his application process, which was originally his suggestion. Moreover, from an official standpoint, he, as a rear-area staff member, shouldn't be on the front lines; personally, he should be more concerned about matters related to the Humanitarian Affairs Department. But for some reason, he still hurriedly followed Zhu Shi here.
"Zhuang Cheng, did you see what that enemy at the Great Completion level looked like?" he asked.
"have."
I took out the severed arm and briefly described the enemy's appearance: short white hair, sharp eyes, a tall and muscular physique... I probably wouldn't forget that look anytime soon.
Lu Youxun looked at the severed arm and listened to my description; his expression turned very ugly.
"There must be very few Demon Hunters at the Grand Master level, right? Is there anyone whose appearance matches that person's?" I asked.
“…No, there isn’t one,” he said. “In Luoshan’s records, there is no Great Completion level that matches this characteristic, either inside or outside Luoshan…But…Zhuang Cheng, can you give me this arm? I might be able to investigate it.”
"That's possible, but I need to give it to Asaho for investigation first," I said.
"Hmm... it would indeed be more appropriate to let her investigate."
With a somber expression, he fell into deep thought.
I waited for him to reach a conclusion. His reaction was somewhat strange, perhaps because he had some ideas about the enemy's true identity.
However, perhaps sensing my gaze, he paused his contemplation and said to me, "Zhuang Cheng, I'm in charge of intelligence in Xian Shui City, and I can help you fabricate a false report. But the magical fluctuations from your battle with that Great Completion level enemy have probably already reached the neighboring city. I think you can't hide your affair for much longer."
"Hidden?" I was almost stunned.
He asked in confusion, "Weren't you going to hide your true power?"
"Ah, you mean that..." I shook my head, "It doesn't matter anymore, so be it if we're exposed."
“Is that so…” he nodded.
Before long, Mr. Zhu finally arrived at the scene. He first comforted his wife, then inquired about the details from Zhu Shi, and then came to us to express his sincere gratitude for my help.
Ma Zao also came back to my side.
Since Chang'an was nowhere to be found, I asked her to investigate her whereabouts. If Chang'an had gone out to play again, that would be best. Or perhaps the Zhu family mansion had some secret passages or hidden rooms specifically used for hiding in case of foreign invasion, and Chang'an might have hidden there.
“Our house does indeed have that kind of secret passage,” Mr. Zhu nodded.
"Wait, is it really true?" I asked.
“Yes, but I haven’t told Chang’an yet,” he said. “Besides, even if he knew about the secret passage, he wouldn’t have time to hide inside.”
"Yes, the mansion was destroyed in one blow, along with the protective barrier, which was also shattered to pieces. Even if my brother happened to be standing in front of the secret passage entrance, he wouldn't have been able to open the passage and hide inside in the collapsed house." Zhu Shi also drew his conclusion through observation, and then asked his grandfather, "Grandpa... do you have any clues about that Great Completion Realm expert? Why did he attack our Zhu family?"
As she spoke, she suddenly hesitated, but finally said, "Could it be that Grandpa, some old enemy you made somewhere has come back to kill you after mastering your divine skills...?"
"..." Mr. Zhu silently turned his head away. "It shouldn't be..."
What exactly was Zhu Shi's impression of his grandfather? And why did Mr. Zhu's tone of denial sound so weak?
Although I believe that the Great Completion level enemy is related to Rendao Si and Ying Lingyun, it's normal for Zhu Shi to think in other directions, considering that there have never been any Great Completion level monsters before. Perhaps it's just a Great Completion level being very skilled at manipulating shadow power.
Zhu Shi looked troubled: "Since they're targeting our Zhu family, that Grand Completion level cultivator might come knocking again..."
"Just in case, each of you should take my 'Fireflies' with you." Several fiery red dots appeared in my palm. "I have a small grudge against that Grand Completion level cultivator. If he comes looking for you later, I'll be able to get my revenge."
I deliberately used a roundabout reason, but my true intention is to continue to uphold my previous promise. If the Zhu family is in trouble, I will lend a helping hand. However, considering the potential harm that the lurking Da Wuchang might pose to Ma Zao, I do not intend to emphasize my close relationship and agreement with the Zhu family to outsiders—specifically Lu Youxun—at this stage.
Mr. Zhu seemed to understand my unspoken meaning, and he glanced at Lu Youxun.
Everyone present accepted my "fireflies," Ma Zao as expected, and I also gave one to Lu Youxun. He accepted it absentmindedly, seemingly lost in thought.
"So, in the end... where did Chang'an go?" I asked Ma Zao.
Ma Zao revealed his findings: "At the same time the Zhu family mansion was destroyed, he was swallowed by a shadowy portal."
“...Ordinary people would certainly die if they were swallowed up into the shadow world, even if Chang'an was a human-demon hybrid. But since the enemy would deliberately make such a move at that moment, it means that the purpose of that portal was not to kill, but to transfer people…” Old Master Zhu frowned.
"So, my brother has been kidnapped?" Zhu Shi exclaimed in surprise. "How many times has he been kidnapped? Is he some kind of princess or leading lady from somewhere?"
If we include my first encounter with Chang'an, that would be the third time.
At least he shouldn't be dead yet, which is the only saving grace in this misfortune... I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Lu Youxun looked at Ma Zao and asked in a cryptic tone, "Could you write down the prisoner's appearance?"
"Can."
Ma Zao took out a photo that showed the appearance of the enemy at the Great Completion level.
Lu Youxun quickly looked at the photo.
His lips trembled, then in a voice tinged with a curse, he uttered a name: "Chenlong..."
(End of this chapter)
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