Chapter 8: Tough Roads Ahead (1)
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Beneath them was an endless expanse of azure waves, while above them floated fluffy white clouds against a deep blue sky.
As a few figures zipped through the air on their swords, they couldn’t help but feel invigorated and clear-headed.
When it was time to summon the witch,
Lin Nan first returned to Cold Wind City to placate the two exceedingly worried boys who had almost torn the entire city apart searching for her after her sudden disappearance.
Then, she slipped right back into her male body.
As for the little boy locked away in the underground palace, his hate-filled gaze still lingered in her mind like an unwanted sitcom rerun.
But she had no intention of letting him out.
Back then, Frost North Snow had her reasons for throwing him into the deep dark dungeon, so until she figured him out, no dice!
For now, that guy could stew in the underground palace, and she’d deal with him later when she had the chance.
“I admit defeat.
From now on, I, Luo Ying, am ready to follow your orders, but I hope your commands won’t harm Heavenly Sword Sect or the Human Race,” Luo Ying said, tailing Lin Nan on her flying sword.
She had emerged with an initial judgment about the source of the soul occupying the male character’s body.
Putting the pieces together from what had just happened in the underground palace, she noticed that when Frost North Snow appeared, the male character’s original consciousness returned. Sure, after that, he got hopped on again by the Preacher, but once the Preacher was sent packing, the male character’s mind breezed back in!
That was a sure thing.
She was convinced that the man currently resting his head on her thigh, healing, was undoubtedly the incessant chatterbox of a male character.
Initially, she thought the soul’s sudden departure was due to sensing danger, making a hasty exit to avoid the heat.
But to her surprise, not long after Frost North Snow vanished, that soul returned to the male character’s body.
All things considered, Luo Ying began to suspect this was all just a tad too coincidental.
Could it be that the soul now residing within the male character was, in fact, Frost North Snow?
The more she mulled it over, the more plausible it appeared. While their genders were different, their styles of speaking and doing things were strikingly alike, especially that icy, calm demeanor with an aura that made everything appear superbly pedestrian. You just couldn’t learn that in a regular classroom; it took thousands of years of time and experience to develop that unique charm.
And besides, White Peach had mentioned that Frost North Snow was an ancient trickster with several thousand years under her belt—pulling off little soul-switching stunts must be a breeze for her.
Let’s not forget, the male character was a walking target for soul jumpers. Seriously, it was like he was wearing a big sign saying, “Pick Me!”
Even the Preacher, who had never laid eyes on him before, decided to hop on him out of all those people in the underground palace. Why? Because his body was just so… versatile.
In short, after much back-and-forth,
that soul riding the male character’s body was likely Frost North Snow.
Her infiltration of the Heavenly Sword Sect probably had something to do with the former Monster King situation. Maybe there were secrets Frost North Snow was unaware of?
Of course, as long as Frost North Snow’s demands didn’t harm the interests of the Human Race or the Heavenly Sword Sect, Luo Ying was game to play along.
Lin Nan was taken aback by how readily Luo Ying surrendered but also felt relieved.
Whether or not she guessed that he was Frost North Snow wasn’t the point; what mattered was that he needed to get a move on!
Two years could disappear faster than a plate of dumplings at a family gathering.
While he could absolutely bail back to the Temple and skip this massive catastrophe, he’d be leaving behind friends who had come to mean a lot to him. Could he really bear to watch them suffer from behind a safety curtain?
Moreover, he just realized a super important issue.
What role would the players play in this impending apocalypse?
Were the everyday folks, entering the game as players, somehow linked to the divine clan’s evil plan?
What the heck was the System anyway?
Lin Nan had long suspected that the so-called “The Way of Inquiry” game wasn’t what players thought it was.
But the thought of players potentially being harvested like crops in the oncoming apocalypse sent chills down his spine. Those millions of players flooding into the game could easily become mere pawns!
Two years were enough time for players to evolve into beings comparable to high-level NPCs.
This illustrated just how crucial the two years—meticulously orchestrated by the Great Palace Master as a result of countless sacrifices—really were.
While he didn’t yet have a full grasp of the System, he understood that without its assistance, he wouldn’t have made it this far.
Thus, the System wasn’t necessarily aligned with the divine clan. In fact, it could be an otherworldly force trying to thwart them!
In summary, this trip to the Heavenly Sword Sect had to yield some clarity regarding the Monster King issue. Even if there were no concrete results, he couldn’t afford further delays.
The System had issued a new campaign: the War for Monster Revival was on the horizon.
Though Lin Nan hadn’t yet confirmed Cold Wind City’s stance in this battle, unifying the three major Monster cities would indeed strengthen their forces in preparation for the impending doom.
With that thought, Lin Nan accelerated her sword flight.
Meanwhile, Fatty had hopped onto White Peach’s flying sword.
Despite White Peach being secretly annoyed at how she had once leapt into Fatty’s arms in a moment of weakness, he had been her buddy through thick and thin, especially when she abruptly flipped on her.
With just her left in Flowerless Palace,
Fatty was technically the person who had been around the longest besides her.
Having him around brought her a sliver of comfort.
Let him stick around a bit longer, White Peach decided.
Fatty, on the other hand, was all smiles.
No matter what, he had achieved his ultimate goal of sticking around Flowerless Palace.
Now, all he had to do was trail behind her and keep her safe.
He was convinced he could win over White Peach with his charm!
The gang made their way west, heading straight for Heavenly Sword Sect.
White Peach was accompanying the trio because the Great Palace Master had once commanded that once the bl**d of All Spirits Formation was activated, it meant the Human Realm and Divine Race had officially severed ties—though they had managed to stretch it out for two extra years.
Thus, she had to deliver the Great Palace Master’s handwritten letter to various clans of the Human Race, the Monster Race city lords, and the Demon Race nobility,
informing them of the impending disaster and urging them to cease infighting and harness the two years to develop their strengths in preparation for the coming doom.
Thanks to her association with Luo Ying, White Peach’s first stop was Heavenly Sword Sect.
The four journeyed through the night, resting only briefly.
But as they stepped into Sky Sword City,
they found themselves surrounded by dozens of black-clad disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall, with one leading the pack barking orders: “Capture the Flowerless Palace criminal!”
…
ps: Not sure what else to say, so let me wish you all an early Happy New Year!
