After the Immortal Disappeared

The way it phrased it was also very interesting: "metamorphosis."

’For a Great Demon like this, it’s more like devolution, isn’t it?’

Hee Lingchuan asked tentatively, "So it’s equivalent to abandoning your Cultivation to preserve your Spiritual Sense?" ’This must be a racial talent. Humans probably can’t do it.’

’The Old Turtle Demon’s Corpse Liberation technique is quite similar. All one can say is that creation works in mysterious ways.’

"That’s right. Throughout these long years, I have shed my Cultivation seven times to find my current path to survival." Second Madam Zhu let out a long sigh. "All the light and heat emitted by the spores here originate from the residual power of my Relic Shells."

In an environment as deep and dark as this cavern, without the fluorescent spores, you couldn’t grow the moss carpets, and you couldn’t raise dairy cows—I mean, you couldn’t raise the giant aphid colonies.

In other words, she was single-handedly sustaining her entire clan.

Who could possibly understand the hardship of her struggle to survive for thousands of years? Not only did she have to stay alive, but she also had to support a family.

"I’m done answering. Now where do you want me to take the first bite?" she asked, walking toward Hee Lingchuan, her impatience growing.

"I have two last questions!" Hee Lingchuan said, seizing the moment. "Were the Ancient Times the age of Immortals? And why did Spiritual Qi decline so drastically?"

The matter of the decline of Spiritual Qi was a subject of immense historical debate, with countless theories but no consensus.

Later generations only grew more confused the more they studied it.

Second Madam Zhu tapped the ground once. "Yes."

She tapped the ground again, answering his second question. "I don’t remember clearly. In the process of changing these seven skins, I lost many crucial memories." Shedding one’s Cultivation to secretly pursue longevity was an act that defied the heavens; how could it not come at a price?

Of course, the most crucial reason was that her patience had run out. She couldn’t be bothered to answer anymore.

’Enough talk. It’s time to end this game of cat and mouse.’ Yes, she was an impatient Second Madam.

"Regarding the Ancient Times, I only remember scattered fragments and scenes, and none of them have anything to do with you!"

Tall and long-limbed, she closed the distance to Hee Lingchuan in just a few strides, opening her mouthparts to reveal sharp, venomous fangs.

From Hee Lingchuan’s perspective, looking up, the fangs were dark and gleaming, as large as a pair of sickles, and dripping with venom.

To say that prey injected by these fangs "could neither live nor die" would be a gross understatement.

"You’re right. It has nothing to do with me." Hee Lingchuan gave a bitter smile and, with a CLANG, drew his Long Saber.

’This ant of a human still wants to resist? Come on, then. I love to see my prey struggle. It makes them taste better.’ Second Madam Zhu sneered, but then she saw him reverse his grip and slit his own throat—clean and decisive!

"..."

A real man should die a swift death.

Better than suffering.

...

Something flew in from the horizon and circled twice over Wei City.

The Red General raised a fluorescent spore and waved it twice. Only then did the creature confirm his location, flying down to land on his shoulder.

It was the Sparrowhawk, returned at last.

"Panlong City’s reinforcements have arrived outside the Ghost Needle Stone Forest. They are coordinating with General Nanke to attack from both within and without, joining forces against Hua Mucuo." The Sparrowhawk was exhausted. It had flown hard and fast, its wings beating all night long. "On my way back, I also saw Captain Sun’s unit. They’re leading the Baling Army in circles across the Wilderness."

The mission of that Great Wind Army contingent was to lure away the Baling Army’s main force so that the Red General could seize the city by surprise.

It panted with its beak open, trying to cool down, and added, "General Nanke was at a disadvantage against Second Madam Zhu in the Ghost Needle Stone Forest. He had to burn down her lair to distract her, which is how he managed to lead his army and successfully escape the Stone Forest."

Then, it recounted the entire sequence of events.

The Red General personally gave it water to drink and stroked its feathers—his hand had already healed. He let the Sparrowhawk rest for a good fifteen minutes before instructing it, "Go find Captain Sun and tell him to return to Wei City. From now on, we switch from offense to defense."

Dawn was breaking, and the battle was about to enter its second phase.

The Sparrowhawk accepted its orders and, with a FLUTTER of its wings, flew away.

The Red General, however, glanced in the direction of the Ghost Needle Stone Forest, lost in thought.

--------End of this volume. The next Chapter begins the new volume, "Dunyu."