Chapter 261: What is a True Miracle?
At the headquarters of the Siye Association, in the office of the Wordless Book.
Wu Yuhui was anxiously pacing back and forth in the room when suddenly another secretary burst in with documents. His eyes trembled as he hurriedly approached and asked, “How is it? Did you find anything?”
In the desert of approximately 50,000 square kilometers, there had been an unusually strong fluctuation in the energy of the earth’s crust. If left unchecked, it could cause great environmental damage, which was definitely an emergency for the Siye Association. It was crucial to find the urban legend that caused the abnormal fluctuation.
The other secretary hesitated for a moment and then shook his head, letting out a long sigh. “Alas! Still nothing…”
“The monitoring room has activated the highest level of examination techniques, searching the areas with the abnormal energy fluctuations several times, but we haven’t found any urban legend that fits the criteria.”
“It’s as if… as if the source of the abnormal energy fluctuations doesn’t even exist in this world.”
Listening to his colleague, Wu Yuhui’s expression gradually became blank.
“How can this be? Such a large-scale abnormal fluctuation, yet we can’t find the source? This is too strange!”
At that moment, the office door was pushed open again.
Hearing the sound, both Wu Yuhui and her colleague looked towards the door. Upon seeing the Siye Association operative who had brought the “bad news,” their faces darkened, and they spoke in unison, “You better be here to tell us good news!”
“Uh…” The operative opened his mouth and nodded. “According to the latest data, the energy sources detected within the God Realm Yumen have increased…”
“This is good news?!”
The sudden rise in their voices made the operative tremble, and after stammering for a moment, he finally said, “B-but, this is indeed good news, as the level of Night Corruption emanating from the God Realm Yumen… has finally decreased. It has fallen from 22.34 to 17.12.”
Wu Yuhui, “…” It is indeed good news, but the number 17.12 still leaves one feeling far from happy!
Essentially, it meant they had climbed up from the eighteenth level of hell to the Bridge of Helplessness; overall, it was still very much in the realm of darkness…
————
At Dachunyang Palace, inside the Moon-Locking Cave,
Zhang Hainan leaned against the window, gazing at the compass in his hand, illuminated by the moonlight streaming through.
The bright moonlight spilled down, lighting up the hexagrams on the compass.
Lower Qian and upper Xun, Wind Sky Minor Accumulation, indicating limited power that needs to develop to a certain extent before significant achievements can be made.
Immediately after, as if influenced by some kind of force, the needle of the compass suddenly trembled slightly, beginning to spin before settling on the hexagram of lower Kan and upper Kun.
Earth Water Master, implying to follow the situation, as the army comes with a reputation, thus able to turn misfortune into good fortune.
“Good, good, the timing is finally approaching…” A smile appeared on Zhang Hainan’s face, and he then put down the compass and took out a Grieving Gray Owl Badge from his bosom, infusing it with a strand of spiritual energy.
“Bi Xuzi is available?”
“Chief Priest, I am here!”
“Call your fellow disciples and that girl Huasang. Have them come with me… to Zixiao Terrace!”
As soon as the words fell, Zhang Hainan put away the Grieving Gray Owl Badge, stood up, picked up a robe from beside him, draped it over his shoulder, and leisurely walked out.
————
Outside Yumen Pass, in the desert near Sanlongsha.
The intense battles among high-level spiritual ability users from various factions had reached a fever pitch, seemingly granting the Shaman Queen, who had just awakened from slumber, a special power, causing her spiritual energy fluctuations to surge higher and higher.
Amidst the encirclement, she roared, breaking through the blockade of Tongzi Tian. Suddenly, she stomped down on the body of the Shikigami Daiyama summoned by Fujihara Shoshoin, a mournful cry resounded, followed by the earth rumbling and shockwaves sweeping through.
In those sweeping shockwaves, countless tribal warriors who had returned from d*ath climbed upon Daiyama’s body, hacking, pulling, and biting… using every means necessary to limit its movement.
Immediately after, the Shaman Queen raised her arms.
A pitch-black spear appeared between her fingers, followed by a burst of dazzling scarlet light, and under the torrential infusion of spiritual energy, the dark spear seemed to burn violently, emitting a low hum.
Accompanied by the Shaman Queen’s movement, a chaotic glow swirled above her head, dissipating Tongzi Tian’s attacks amid the sounds of metal clashing, before sweeping downward towards Daiyama’s head, with the force of a breaking bamboo.
In that instant, it was as if space itself had been torn apart, leaving behind ghastly scars with crimson trails that lingered for a long time.
A thousand years ago, she had pierced through Longxiang’s chest in a similar manner.
At that moment, an unnamed assassin from the Assassins organization, as if leaping from the void, swung dual blades, attempting to intercept the Shaman Queen’s attack. However, the layers of light arcs he unleashed were pierced by the dark spear one after another, until even his body was crushed by the surging spiritual energy.
bl**d, unable to fall, transformed into scarlet mist, spreading out…
Seeing that various factions were gradually showing signs of decline in their clash with the Shaman Queen, the Wordless Book, hidden within the wind-eroded hill, had already pulled out the Grieving Gray Owl Badge and was prepared to issue instructions to the Siye operatives lying in ambush several dozen kilometers away.
At that moment, her eyes, which had been fixed on the Shaman Queen, suddenly trembled.
In her line of sight, the figure of the Shaman Queen, as if influenced by some force, abruptly froze without warning.
It was as if a large machine, which was moving at high speed, suddenly experienced a problem with a tiny component, causing its operation to become jerky and noisy.
The next moment, her soaring momentum and spiritual energy fluctuations suddenly dropped as if doused with cold water.
Seizing that moment, Daiyama’s dark and burly body shook violently, accompanied by the rising waves of earth all around, escaping from the Shaman Queen’s suppression.
The moment it landed, countless ghostly faces silently appeared beside it, releasing terrifying roars, tearing through the incoming tribal warriors and carving a bloody path.
The sudden change in the situation caused the Wordless Book to feel a moment of shock, and she began to doubt.
At this very moment, the Grieving Gray Owl Badge in her hand suddenly trembled, and Zhang Hainan’s voice rang in her mind.
“Old friend, did you see that? Calamity and her companion seem to have begun to exert their strength…”
“…”
The Wordless Book fell silent for a few seconds, looking down at the Grieving Gray Owl Badge that she was rubbing between her fingertips, muttering thoughtfully, “Calamity and her companion…”
Before this, she had never considered placing hope on Calamity and her companions, but now she suddenly felt that perhaps… it might really be somewhat useful?
————
Deep inside Yumen Pass, in the dungeon of the County Prince’s Mansion.
The strange person exclaimed joyfully and wildly, “They have returned!” After running off with a dance, the four people and one urban legend in the dungeon were briefly stunned into silence.
After a moment, Bai Kai, who was the first to recover from his stupor, cleared his throat and quietly asked, “Ahem, that guy has finally left. Should we… do something?”
Although unclear why the strange person said, “They finally returned” after seeing what appeared to be a portrait of Luxianbei, Bai Kai had a vague feeling that this time, the strange person would probably not return for quite some time after leaving.
Upon hearing Bai Kai’s words, the system glanced around at the expressions of everyone present under the dim light and summoned the courage to say, “Uh, esteemed lords, I have a somewhat immature suggestion, and I’m not sure if I should say it or not?”
Nanling Peak glanced at the system with cold disdain and said, “Speak!”
“I mean, if that strange person really won’t be returning for a while, then isn’t now the perfect opportunity for everyone to escape?” The system said. “Uh, that’s what my master means, right, master?”
Upon hearing this, Gu Qiqi was taken aback for a moment and then quickly regained her composure, nodding repeatedly, “Yes, exactly, that’s what I mean!”
Seeing Gu Qiqi react so quickly, the system let out a breath of relief.
Although it didn’t know how the strange person knew Calamity, judging by their jubilant demeanor, they were probably allies with Calamity…
Now, if there was a chance to escape, would they wait for Calamity to return and then struggle desperately?
With Calamity plus that unfathomable strange person, aside from Bai Kai, it seemed that everyone present would likely meet their end here!
“That’s a pretty good idea!” Huaiyuan Jun sneered. “But is leaving as easy as it sounds?”
As she spoke, she struggled against the chains around her, and after a series of piercing sounds, she spoke again, “Even if that strange thing isn’t there, it won’t be easy to escape!”
“Really? What about with the energy stick to assist?” A voice asked, originating from an unknown place, reaching Huaiyuan Jun’s ears.
“Of course, that’s no problem!” Huaiyuan Jun blurted out, “Not to brag, but if the energy stick hadn’t been lost, not a single chain, even a hundred of them, could hold me down!”
“Wait!” After speaking her bragging words, she suddenly realized something was off and widened her eyes, “Who just spoke?”
She looked around, sizing up everyone present.
Nanling Peak remained silent, Gu Qiqi and that little urban legend kept shaking their heads, only Bai Kai looked into the darkness with a significant smile on his face.
“Well, well, I thought you’d vanished! I was beginning to think you had run off on your own!”
“Sorry, it’s hard to find this place, so it took me some time.”
A voice emerged from the darkness, and soon a tall and burly figure entered view.
It was none other than the General.
“It’s you?” Huaiyuan Jun recognized the General, surprised. “Did you pick up my energy stick?”
The General looked at Huaiyuan Jun and gently shook his head, “I didn’t pick it up; rather, while looking for all of you, I encountered… it’s what you could call the urban legend that was bought off by the Wordless Book, and it was sent by them.”
As the words fell, a fat and white little worm appeared on his shoulder, tightly holding onto the energy stick given to it by Nanling Yaohua.
The moment the system noticed that little worm, it felt as if it had plunged into an ice cave.
It was certain that it was the Void, even if it wasn’t the main body, it was a part!
Although it had never seen the true form of the Void through countless encounters with destructive forces, it was already very familiar with the spiritual energy fluctuations of the Void.
After all, that was a memory deeply etched into its being, exchanged with its life.
“…”
Just when it seemed they had narrowly escaped the clutches of Calamity, another terrifying Void sprang forth…
And it was the Void that had gained the trust of the Siye Association members!
What should they do now? If they told them that the seemingly harmless little worm was a factor in world destruction, would they believe it?
While the system was deeply entangled in complex thoughts, a call from the Void suddenly reached its ears, “You, that urban legend over there, come help me out, would you? Take this thing over there and feed it to Huaiyuan Jun, will you?”
The system looked at the little worm that was wagging its tail toward it, and it instantly froze.
In that moment, it felt d*ath closing in on it.
—————
On the other side, in the Dai Mu Institute.
After revealing her identity as the Miracle Saint, the Longxiang Army Armor Soldier, Chen Long, who had been supporting her, suggested a doubt before the gradually growing crowd of onlookers could react.
“Wait! To say that the Miracle Cult and the Miracle Flower are gifts left by the Hong Bian Holy Monk and are the key to eliminating the imminent disaster threatening Yumen Pass, I believe that…”
“But to say you are the Miracle Cult’s Saint… I do not believe that!”
After a pause, he turned to look at the surrounding crowd, slightly lifting his chin. “I think everyone agrees with me, right?”
“Yes! Right!”
“That makes some sense?”
“…”
The crowd that had gathered mostly had only heard rumors about the “demon girl Shen Baiwei” and had long admired the Hong Bian Monk. Under Chen Long’s intentional guidance according to what Big Shen Girl had instructed, they instinctively gave affirmative responses.
Xie Erlang, hiding in the crowd, seeing the situation unfold, smirked, quietly stepping back a little to further conceal himself.
He came to the Dai Mu Institute to find a chance to reveal the “secret of miracles” to everyone, but unexpectedly, “Fang Ji” got one step ahead and occupied the nest!
After hearing “Fang Ji’s” remarks and confirming that “Fang Ji” was not one of their own, but instead a nuisance emerging from somewhere, he almost couldn’t contain his anger and rushed forward to k*ll her on the spot.
But now…
It was obvious that the Longxiang Army Armor Soldier was one of their own. Since he was lending a hand, it wouldn’t hurt to observe the situation first, right? Xie Erlang thought, and the next scene quickly plunged him into deep thought.
“Unless you can prove you are the Miracle Saint!” Chen Long pointed at the “Fang Ji” standing high above and shouted.
“Prove? Interesting!” Seeing everything unfolding according to “the script,” Shen Baiwei wasn’t acting at all, and an “evil charm” naturally appeared on her lips, “Then how do you think I should prove it?”
“Let me think…” Chen Long stroked his chin, feigning hesitation as he pondered for a few seconds, and then his eyes lit up, “In my understanding, creating something from nothing is a miracle. I wonder if Fang Girl can do that?”
“Creating something from nothing?” Shen Baiwei tilted her head. “Do you mean like this? Or like this? Or perhaps this?”
As she spoke, a flicker of flame appeared at her fingertips, swaying a few times before transforming into flowing water, and in the blink of an eye, it condensed into heavy ingots of gold, making the crowd gasp in amazement.
This was a common trick used by some members of the Miracle Cult when luring people to join, and as a former core member of the Miracle Cult, Shen Baiwei executed it flawlessly, not making any mistakes.
Manipulating the oblivious crowd was more than enough!
Amidst the crowd, Xie Erlang discerned the signs, realizing that things were becoming questionable. His expression gradually darkened, and he could no longer hold back, bursting out from the crowd and loudly roaring towards “Fang Ji.”
“Enough! This doesn’t count as a miracle at all!”
“Oh?” Shen Baiwei suppressed her inner unease, squinting her eyes as she sized up the “big fish” that had taken the bait, and asked mockingly, “It seems this friend has a different opinion? If so, why don’t you tell everyone what a true miracle is?”
“A true miracle is resurrection after d*ath!” Xie Erlang said coldly. “Coincidentally, I just happen to be able to do that, but I wonder if you can… Are you daring enough to compete with me?”
After saying that, he fixed his gaze on “Fang Ji’s” eyes, as if forcing her to respond—not being polite and withdrawing when it was clear she should.
In his mind, he believed he was blessed by the power of miracles, so he could obviously achieve resurrection after d*ath, while the imposter before him had no chance against him.
If this imposter really couldn’t save face and insisted on a competition, she would undoubtedly d*e!
Thus, if the imposter hesitated, the true and false situations would become crystal clear.
However, to Xie Erlang’s surprise, the imposter, upon hearing his words, surprisingly laughed dismissively. “Alright, then let’s compete!”
As she spoke, she turned to Chen Long nearby and cupped her hands. “Military lord, may I borrow your dagger for a moment?”
“Of course!” Chen Long readily agreed, unfastening the dagger from his waist and handing it to Shen Baiwei.
Shen Baiwei took the dagger, nimbly jumped down from the table, and walked a few steps to Xie Erlang’s side, her eyebrows slightly arching. “Since the content of the competition was set by you, then who goes first shall be determined by me, alright?”
As she spoke, she drew the battle kn*fe and presented it to Xie Erlang. “Then please, go ahead.”
Looking at the glinting white blade presented by Shen Baiwei, Xie Erlang’s Adam’s apple slowly moved.
“Glub—!”
He couldn’t understand why the opponent dared to agree to such a life-risking competition.
This unsettling turn of events filled him with intense unease.
Could it be… she could also achieve resurrection after d*ath? Xie Erlang wondered.
Meanwhile, Chen Long discreetly observed Shen Baiwei’s expression and, seeing her calm demeanor, couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of admiration.
He used to think the two Shen girls looked very different and had doubts about their sibling relationship.
How could there be sister siblings who looked so dissimilar?
But now, after witnessing the little Shen girl and the big Shen girl sharing the same sharp tongue and the aggressive aura of holding a kn*fe and ordering someone to their d*ath, all his doubts vanished.
They were definitely biological sisters! Chen Long thought firmly.
At the same time, observing Xie Erlang trembling as he took the unsheathed battle kn*fe, Shen Baiwei couldn’t help but feel nervous.
Calamity, you really need to be reliable this time!
Otherwise, if the other person actually becomes resurrected after self-inflicting harm later on, I will be in trouble… Shen Baiwei thought anxiously.
