Shackles of Humanity

Luo Kai watched the Insect Mother retreat into the distance and sighed inwardly. He was powerless against a creature that could fly. ’Hopefully, the army can handle it.’

There were still quite a few insects darting through the city, but they no longer posed a significant threat.

After this disaster, Changyuan City was reduced to a complete wasteland. A gray mist coiled over the city—not dust, not gunpowder smoke, but the resentment of countless departed souls, filled with despair, hatred, and a clinging attachment to life.

Back at the hotel, the people who had been hiding in the basement had emerged. They cautiously poked their heads through a gap blasted open by gunfire to survey the scene outside. Lu Qing was among them, her face etched with anxiety. When Luo Kai’s figure appeared, her expression finally relaxed.

"The insects have been driven off. Everyone find a place to rest."

After saying this simply, Luo Kai and Lu Qing found a relatively intact room and settled in. He lay on the bed, staring blankly into space. More than others, he could feel the sorrow and lingering attachments that saturated the city, and his mind and body were inevitably affected.

Seeing his gloomy expression, Lu Qing gently snuggled into his arms and asked softly, "What’s wrong?"

Luo Kai lowered his head to kiss Lu Qing’s pale cheek, then buried his face in her fragrant hair. Her familiar scent seemed to anchor his spirit, and the turmoil within him gradually subsided.

They shared a tender moment for a while before a jarring set of footsteps echoed in the hallway and stopped at their door. After a moment, a somewhat hoarse voice called out, "Luo Xiaoyou, may I have a word?"

Luo Kai sat up and said apologetically to Lu Qing, "An annoying guy is here."

Lu Qing straightened her messy hair and said gently, "A friend of yours? Please, ask him to come in."

"Not a friend. Trouble," Luo Kai shrugged, getting up to open the door.

Standing outside was none other than Mushan. He wore a humble smile and said, "Luo Xiaoyou, I’m so sorry to bother you this late."

"What is it? Spit it out." Luo Kai had no intention of inviting him in.

’As the Grand Commander of the Military Punishment Department, when has anyone in the entire Xingma Kingdom ever dared to speak to me like this? But this kid is different. In just over a month, his strength has changed dramatically again.’

’Never mind that he can easily kill giant insects that even High-level Martial Artists can’t handle. Just standing in front of him, I feel an invisible pressure. I’ve only ever felt this when facing a Body Master. Has this kid already advanced to the rank of Body Master? No wonder the Judgement Department sent a Body Master to capture him personally. He’s an absolute monster!’

Inwardly shocked, Mushan adopted an even more humble posture. "Um... Luo Xiaoyou, the Insect Mother is fleeing toward the Mist Mountain Range. If it’s allowed to gather another locust army, our Xingma Kingdom will be in big trouble..."

Luo Kai interrupted him, his expression unreadable. "The Insect Mother stays in the sky; it never lands. If I’d had a chance to kill it, I would have acted already."

Mushan’s expression grew solemn. "Yes, which is why we’ve contacted three air squadrons to intercept it. We’re confident they can shoot it down. However, the Insect Mother is protected by three giant insects. These escorts use terrifying sonic attacks, making it hard to get close. Our only hope is to ask you, Luo Xiaoyou, to intervene once more."

Mushan hesitated before continuing, "If you succeed, Luo Xiaoyou, with such a meritorious deed to your name, the Body Technique Association won’t dare arrest you so openly. I will also ask the Great Lord to personally write a letter to the Body Technique Association. We will find a way to convince them to rescind your wanted order."

Luo Kai’s brow furrowed. ’I know my situation perfectly well,’ he thought. ’The Judgement Department won’t stop hunting me just because of some meritorious deed.’ He wasn’t concerned about that part of the deal.

"Luo Kai, you should go. Don’t worry about me," Lu Qing said softly from behind him.

Mushan was stunned for a moment when he saw Lu Qing, then sighed to himself. ’I knew there was a woman in the room, but I never expected her to be this beautiful. Then again, it makes sense. How could a man like Luo Kai not have a few beautiful admirers? Isn’t my own daughter lovesick over him, unable to eat or sleep?’

...

A fuel-powered armored vehicle was parked outside the hotel. On the way, Mushan couldn’t resist asking, "Luo Xiaoyou, have you advanced to the rank of Body Master?"

Luo Kai shook his head. "No." He then closed his eyes, Mushan’s question having triggered a line of deep thought.

’My superior combat strength comes entirely from the powerful bursts generated by circulating my vitality at high speeds. I should still be a long way from the rank of Body Master. To advance, one must undergo an external Energy Infusion. I certainly can’t let myself be infused with Evil Energy, and I haven’t had time to research Elemental Energy.’

’Furthermore, I have a nagging feeling that forcing an Energy Infusion with a single external energy is the wrong approach. The body’s Little Cosmos encompasses all external energies. The true path of Cultivation should be to use Elemental Energy to strengthen the five viscera, Chaos Energy to strengthen the physical body, and Light Energy and Dark Energy to strengthen the bloodline. And while Time and Space are ethereal and intangible, they likely correspond to one’s own Spiritual Will. Only when you have perfectly aligned with each of the energies that constitute all of creation will your own Little Cosmos be completely formed. That is the true path of the Celestial Dao.’

The vehicle drove into a military airfield outside of Changyuan City. The place had been destroyed by the insect swarm, but after some quick repairs to the runway, several small biplanes, fully loaded with ammunition, were now parked there.

Mushan led Luo Kai to one of the fighter jets, where a man with a Cicada-Wing Saber strapped to his back was already standing.

"Luo Xiaoyou, this is my younger brother, Yan Fei. He studied at Shangjing University in his youth. Not only is he an expert in Body Techniques, but he’s also a skilled pilot of various aircraft and tanks. You two have met before. He’ll be flying you to find an opportunity to kill the Insect Mother. It flies incredibly fast, so you’ll have to chase it in a fighter jet."

The man with the saber hurried forward, extending his hand. "Lord Body Master, it’s an honor to meet you."

Luo Kai shook his hand. "I’m not a Body Master. Just call me Luo Kai."

Yan Fei was taken aback and glanced at Mushan.

Mushan smiled. "Brother, Luo Kai isn’t a Body Master yet, but you’ve seen his combat prowess for yourself."

This wasn’t Luo Kai’s first time in an airplane. In this world, there were no complex electronics; everything ran on crude, mechanical systems. As a result, the failure rate was extremely high, and every pilot also had to be a mechanical engineer.

Yan Fei sat in the pilot’s seat, his movements deft and practiced. With a roar from the engine, the fighter jet climbed into the night sky.

"Brother Luo, that Insect Mother is really fast. I’m pushing it to full throttle!"

The wind was strong that night. They hit a powerful air current head-on, and the fighter jet began to tumble with a loud GROAN and CREAK.

Yan Fei wrestled nervously with the control stick, apologizing profusely. "Brother Luo, sorry about that! The Xingma Kingdom’s planes are just too old."

Yan Fei’s attitude was incredibly warm, calling him "Brother Luo" over and over. Luo Kai felt a bit exasperated. ’This guy is much older than me. How can he be so shameless?’

The fighter jet went into another violent tumble. The engine sputtered, WHINING as the plane suddenly nosedived toward the ground.

Luo Kai was startled and cursed inwardly. He grabbed the parachute pack beside him, wondering if he should jump. ’We’re thousands of meters up,’ he thought. ’Even with my abilities, a fall from this height won’t end well.’

Yan Fei was also cursing up a storm. "Dammit, how many years has it been since this thing flew? The engine must be rusted solid!"

Just as the jet was about to crash, the engine let out a deafening ROAR, and its power returned. With a shudder of its wings, the plane shot back into the sky, and both men finally breathed a sigh of relief.