The Science Demon’s train hurtled recklessly toward Cruen.
Everyone on board felt a violent trembling. Yang Zicang noticed a faint, hazy glow enveloping the train’s exterior. It looked like the train was using the Amplified Chrono technique.
Huang Xu had actually appeared inside the carriage? This was something Yang Zicang had never even considered.
“Can anyone tell me what’s happening? “
He finished speaking and looked toward Cheng Yunze, but Cheng Yunze was staring at the train.
“I don’t really know, either. It’s just that someone called Director Huang suddenly appeared in the carriage. And he told me that if I didn’t come find you, something I would deeply regret would happen next. ” Cheng Yunze hesitated as he said this.
“Honestly, I’m afraid that thing has already happened. Because according to the ‘next moment’ he mentioned a few minutes ago, I should be arriving over Juanhai right now. “
{I guess they should still be safe. } The train’s voice came.
Cheng Yunze urgently addressed the empty space of the carriage. “Big Star. I wanted to ask you on the way earlier; you said you saw the future. What the hell is going on here? “
Yang Zicang realized that at such close range, the Demon Train would take at most ten to thirty seconds to arrive. Therefore, even if it knew something, Cheng Yunze would have no time to ask.
{It was you who invited him back. Conductor, accelerate for me, I need to go faster. }
Without a word, a circular halo flickered to life on Yang Zicang’s chest, with a slow-spinning, minute quadrilateral within.
Cheng Yunze had heard this before, and now that the Demon Train was saying it again, he couldn’t help but wonder if it might actually be true.
Murmurs of discussion arose from the surroundings.
“Anyway, that person who suddenly appeared on the train just now was pretty inexplicable. “
“That guy with the severed hand just popped up out of nowhere holding a wooden staff taller than himself. “
“He must be some top-tier expert. So cool—seriously badass, whether he was appearing or disappearing. “
The muttering of the people nearby made Yang Zicang, who was accelerating the train for the Demon Train, look up.
{Our formidable enemy also has such an ability. Their exploring staff functions very similarly! }
“What?! ” The people in the carriage exclaimed in shock. “There’s another enemy like that! “
{And the enemy is way stronger than him. }
“Holy crap! ” The carriage was filled with exclamations of shock.
And Yang Zicang’s heart pounded violently; the wooden staff had appeared again, and Huang Xu actually had one too!!!
This was already the third person! Yang Zicang murmured to himself.
“Big star, why are you only telling us this now? ” Anxi shouted.
{Huh? You never asked that question, and I’ve only rested for less than two seconds. }
Amidst the commotion inside the carriage, everyone rushed towards Wang Zhi’s weapon box, frantically and noisily picking their choices.
“Take the best resonance, quickly! “
“President Buchen, you should take one too! ” In the chaos, a longsword was tossed to Yang Zicang, who caught it with one hand.
Anxi came over, holding several swords in his arms, “It would be best if everyone coming in here has a weapon. Damn it, that kind of elusive bastard is extremely troublesome, capable of covering a lot of ground in an instant. “
Yang Zicang looked at the weapon in his hand—it was a Century Weapon, one that had been through over a hundred years of eras per strike.
Huang Xu, too, had a wooden staff…
A thought suddenly struck him: Could the wooden staff in his future son’s hand be one of the two rods that would appear tonight?
Or perhaps, was Huang Xu already a member of that organization, luring them into a trap?
But according to the train, it was Cheng Yunze who invited Huang Xu to come back and deliver the information.
What happened to him this past year, such that he has already become this powerful?
They said that… just a few minutes ago…
Where is Huang Xu now?
Yang Zicang frowned slightly and glanced at his shoulder, whispering, “Hey, are you there? “
But there was no response.
……
Above the dome of Cruhn, inside the clamorous airship, the crowd was playing musical instruments like accordions and bamboo flutes.
Amid the revelry, the train suddenly appeared, bringing with it the sound of wind, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Follow me, now, ” the high-ring bloodline warrior shouted as the train door slid open with a whoosh.
“What’s happening? “
Anxi tossed the swords and blades from his arms. “Grab one if you don’t have a weapon. Quick, we’re heading into a fight! “
Zhao Anlong stepped forward. “And where exactly are we going? “
“To the sea—the sea of painted scrolls. “
They instantly grasped the target, and cold fury dripped from their voices as curses and shouts erupted. “Hell, they’re going after that?! “
“What lowlife would target a place like that?! “
With a rumble, the crowd surged onto the train. In an instant, a distorted ripple of energy enveloped it high in the sky, and it vanished.
The Feilü Inn.
On the first floor, Manager Mus was just pulling out an old hotel registry from storage. He dabbed softly at the dust on its cover with a piece of soft cloth, wiping it clean.
Suddenly, harsh sirens howled from the Dream Nightmare Train’s horn in thrumming blasts, like an irritated beast awakening from its slumber.
KABOOOOOM! The train carriage flickered into view, wave-trailing wind exploding aside as it zipped in, in the middle of its flight so casually swallowing the Yi boy, Wang Zhi, who had thumped right into its path.
Manager Mus gently lifted his head to look toward its sharp arrival on the fourth-floor hallway. He chortled, slightly shaking his head before calmly lowering his gaze. A few seconds vanished, and the train bulleted into room 405; then, again, an independent figure gave a slow whisper of unstruck aftermath.
Inside the carriage, tumbled Wang Zhi rolled twice, raised his head, and saw every single one of the other twenty passengers gripping their selected weapons—and recognized those swords and heavy curved sabers with deep discomfort.
Wang Zhi craned his neck with a hissing, smarting sound to check his weap—storage in crates on board, the rack revealed merely rack debris inside mainly rejected-looking hilt-piece remnants.
“……“
“No worries, brother. We’ll give them back to you when we’re done. “
Seeing Wang Zhi’s expression, a few people chuckled twice to reassure him. “Even if some get lost, I promise they’ll be better than what you have now. “
……
Amidst the surging waves reflecting the rippling moonlight.
A figure wearily swam in the water. After a good while, he was probably exhausted, spat out a couple of mouthfuls of bitter seawater, and flipped onto his back, his chest heaving as he floated.
His wet clothes clung tightly to his thin but solid chest.
“I’m young now. Come on, Director Huang, you can do it. “
He waved his hand, then looked up at the high moon, his vision slightly blurry, and focused his eyes on a small black dot hovering in the sky.
That bird is so small, he thought.
Being able to fly over the sea while being this small probably means there’s land nearby, or an island.
Then, slightly surprised and delighted, he saw that tiny little bird, hovering about ten meters above his head, land with ashuaright on his chest muscle.
Such a cute little bird! It’s just that its feathers look a bit strange. But just one look revealed it was extraordinary.
Then he noticed the bird tilted its head and stared at him with a slightly appraising look.
“Uh? “
Why would a bird have such a lively expression?
“Hey hey, you’re the one called Director Huang, right. “
“Oh my god! “
Huang Xu was so startled he cried out in his dialect, frantically waving his severed hand. “A nightmare! A demon! “
Little Bird swooped up with a rustle and landed again at the very tip of the wooden staff propped under his neck, tilting its head ominously as it said:
“Devil? Congratulations, human, you’ve discovered my true nature. “
A faint golden temporal radiance flickered across Huang Xu’s body, which was already the extent of all his enhancements.
Then he saw the same faint golden temporal radiance shimmering on Little Bird.
Then it turned red.
And after that, orange.
Under Huang Xu’s stunned gaze, the orange light resembled a small flame, leaping and growing as it engulfed the bird’s head, drawing ever closer!
“Agh! ” Huang Xu thrashed in panic through the seawater, splashing and flailing as he struggled, “Get away! “
Little Bird glanced at the floating staff beneath its claws. Huang Xu, on the other side of the staff, gripped the far end of the probe rod in terror, wanting to use it yet dreading fearsome magical creature.
“So you… you can also manipulate time… and in this color… “
“Oh? Never seen it before? It’s just a mere hundred thousand units of chronology time, Cuckoo. ” The radiance of temporal enhancement on Little Bird shrank back down.
A wave of immense satisfaction washed through its mind.Things were different now than in those days. Those despicable humans, any one of them might wield tens of thousands of chronology time units. It had been a long while since it could intimidate a human just through time itself.
Cursed Yang Zicang.
It thought grimly of its bed. Having stayed by that guy’s side for so long, it still hadn’t found a chance to take the bed back. That guy and that hat…
It’s hardly ever used, really.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be stuck being unable to sleep all day, and so worried about the recovery and amplification of its core Time Sequence.
“You, ” Huang Xu said cautiously to the bird under the moonlight, who seemed lost in thought on a floating log, “What the hell are you? “
It gave a louddongas it pecked the wooden staff, rolling its eyes left and right before raising its head:
“Now you know how formidable I, Cuckoo, am! Want to take your measly little life? Little Bird can do it anytime. So from now on, you listen to me, Iron Bar Han. “
“Listen to you? Listen to you about what? “
An uneasy glint flickered in Huang Xu’s eyes. This world… This was the place only experts with a lifespan of over ten thousand years could reach.
It was way too terrifying!
A single bird had a hundred thousand Time Sequence. Even if he let it stand there while he poked it with a Century Weapon, just think how many pokes it would take! And it was so damn fast too!
Seeing this reaction from his target, Steel Bar Han the Cuckoo appeared far more relaxed and at ease.
“Now, I’ve got a plan. A high-value cultivation plan. “
“High-value… cultivation… plan? “
The Cuckoo’s tiny black eyes reflected the vast, faintly green sea and the distant, twinkling starlight where sea and sky merged on the horizon.
“That’s right. Only this way can we maximize your price. “
Huang Xu, his whole body submerged in the water, slowly widened his confused eyes.
Little Bird lowered its head. “Don’t you get it? This ‘price’ of yours, it’s your inherent value. “
“I don’t quite understand… what you mean. “
Whoosh! It suddenly spread its wings. “Never mind, suit yourself. You will come to understand the greatness of Cuckoo. All you have to do is listen and obey. Human. “
Huang Xu’s mouth opened slightly.
“I will mold you into a top-tier product, one that will make all the distributors I know look at you with new eyes. “
“I… “
“You won’t lose your freedom. “
Little Bird craned its neck forward, quickly uttering these words that brought a measure of relief to Huang Xu’s heart.
“Swim over. “
“Huh? ” Huang Xu stared back at the mysterious bird perched on a floating log.
Confusion was written all over his face, from his expression down to his very soul.
“Swim to where? “
“To the opposite shore. “
At least he wasn’t going to die, right?
Realizing the situation, Huang Xu completely relaxed. “So that’s how it is, ” he murmured, turning his head to gaze into the distance.
“How far? “
Little Bird hopped over twice. “By your Fogfolk’s measure… maybe three… no, probably just two Atlantics away. “
Huang Xu’s jaw dropped in silent horror as he stared, wide-eyed with terror, at the vast expanse where the sea met the sky.
“But… glub glub glub glub glub! “
A burst of bubbles rose from the sea waves. Just as his head was about to sink beneath the water, Cuckoo hopped onto the top of Huang Xu’s head, gripped a business card in its beak, and rubbed it around a couple of times against his scalp.
……
“We’re almost there! Get ready! “
On the bus, people drew their swords and enhanced their bodies with Chronology.
{There are five people who can set up a force field that prevents me from leaving. Remember to take them out first. }
Yang Zicang looked up slightly at the crowd around him, their emotions surging with excitement.
Many of them had manifested Stellar Yuan and phantom-like shadows of bloodlines that would make many hardworking but unsuccessful folks on land envious, exposed on their bodies.
Rings of light flickered to life in people’s eyes.
The Demon Train carved an arc, speeding along the sea surface towards the front, its body met by eerily undulating seawater and waves.
{Almost there, it’s hiding right here. Get ready… }
Ahead was not that wooden sailing ship quietly floating on the sea, but instead a vast, hazy sea fog beginning to appear!
This is it! The Demon Train’s headlights revealed a cruel and ferocious intent.
In all its history, charging along with numerous helpers through all kinds of danger zones, it had never encountered,never, such a situation as frustrated and infuriated it as one in a future memory.
A small, dark, broken and fragmentary wreck ahead in the fog suddenly loomed larger at high speed.
Sensing the surging storm at his back belonging to a broad-shouldered man in a vertically-striped blue long shirt, he barely managed a glance over his shoulder before a crashing boom—a phantom shadow engulfed him!
“Annihilation! “
With ahmmmmsound, the air was spinning, trembling, on the verge of collapse!
Yang Zicang silently squatted on the ground with one hand, its palm, planted against the floor; around his chest, a quadrilateral of sputtering lines exploded from the circular emblem which hung there.
The million-sequence train loomed; its deep, ghost-like body gleamed with a dark, muted undertone interspersed with a brilliant yellow infused with an orange-aureate radiance.
{Got you this time, alright! }
Boom!
A terrifying pressure enveloped the man who had been suddenly drawn in. The glow of Stellar Yuan swiftly appeared around Ambassador Kai, and the path-blazing staff in his hand flared, spreading a Path of Light.
But with athudof an explosion, his eyes stared in disbelief as a fist shadow crashed through his own stomach at high speed.
Next came several figures of martial artists swiftly darting past him. The sharp blades in their hands carried a dazzling timeline glow, slicing cleanly through his body.
How could this be…
This was the last question that flashed through Ambassador Kai’s mind before he sank to answer the only one he had time to form.
In that very instant, the surrounding dimmed. A patch of luminous Pathways suddenly appeared at the feet of a crowd, dashing, slashing, and surging within the speeding carriage, bridging the space between passion and fury.
There was a barefoot man clad in a simple white longcoat, wearing the marks of a journey unending. In the eyes of Kai facing him, the silhouette blinked jauntingly several times until it emerged straight before him; his hand seized the ambassador’s shoulder and lightly jerked him backward.
This mere pull halved the gash left by Zhao Anlong’s fist-punch that had otherwise driven all the way in before recoiling, even as several blade lights slashing into his body lost ground and fanned back, drawn mid-chop as though chased by a phantom jerk.
Yang Zicang watched as those attacks were pulled back along their trajectory for a second.
“Turbulence… “
Although still severely wounded, it was no longer fatal.
“Traceback again? ” He instinctively thought of the bloodline name he had seen in the novel adapted from Lin Feng’s memoir, that half-finished book.
Joshua, who was pulling Ambassador Kai’s fading form, slightly turned his head to glance at Yang Zicang. Then, in a flash, the two of them vanished from the train.
With a loud crash, the attacks unleashed by the crowd instantly lost their target.
“Our attacks were dragged backward by about a second’s distance. “
“It’s like the ability of a high-ringcount Turbulence bloodline! “
Zhao Anlong stood rooted to the spot, his eyes bright and piercing, an aura of terror emanating from him.
“I’m at the Fourth Ring. Even if it’s not Void Rend, something that can pull my attack back by half a second is definitely a Fifth Ring ability. “
“That guy’s aura—someone must have signed a temporary investment contract with him. “
“At least a Sage-level existence! “
“Chase! ” Yang Zicang shouted.
The train wobbled on the wooden ship and, with a groan, shot towards the golden flash flickering away over the sea. As it approached, the pale golden dot drifted away again, but was immediately pursued by the furious Nightmare Train that chased it relentlessly.
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