Chapter 343: The Taboo Of The Sky And One Punch
Inside the beginner meditation room.
As Lin Qi asked his question, Fan Yaoguang, who had originally planned to speak at length, froze. He was clearly puzzled that Lin Qi would ask this.
“Isn’t the First Domain City the last fortress established by all races to resist the disaster of monsters?” Lin Qi looked at the equally bewildered Fan Yaoguang and then changed his phrasing.
The First Domain City had disappeared for over a hundred years. In those hundred years, all kinds of changes could have taken place within the forbidden zone. For example, it might have been occupied by other aliens and become the enemy of all races. That was not impossible. In his view, after all, on this planet, apart from the human race, everything else could be considered alien.
However, Lin Qi’s question made Fan Yaoguang’s expression grow even more astonished.
“Your Excellency Yaoguang, it seems that the history known to both sides differs quite a lot,” Lin Qi took a deep breath and said slowly. “Why don’t you, Your Excellency Yaoguang, first talk about what kind of place the First Domain City is in your understanding?”
“No problem.” Fan Yaoguang also understood what was going on and nodded. “According to what all our shelters know, after the great disaster, all the suddenly appearing races were dealing with those endless, ever stronger monsters. Until one day, alien spawn descended on our planet, trying to occupy our entire world. Only then did our races truly join forces to resist.”
“This First Domain City was a fortress built by those alien spawn who had captured large numbers of geniuses from all races. The strength of those aliens surpassed that of all our races. Just as it seemed we could no longer block them, a great transfer suddenly occurred, and the environment we lived in underwent tremendous changes.”
“The abrupt environmental mutation and the emergence of abnormals not only caused monsters to slaughter each other, but also greatly affected those alien spawn. After we major shelters discovered the First Domain City, we launched a fierce attack on it. Only after paying a heavy price did we destroy the First Domain City and rescue many geniuses who had been ruled by those alien spawn. That is what I know of the First Domain City.”
Fan Yaoguang’s account left Wu Zhuoqun and Qin Mu, who had been standing behind Lin Qi, dumbfounded and unable to speak for a long time.
“So that’s how history really is. The difference from what we know is indeed not small.” Lin Qi nodded, suppressing the shock in his heart.
Although he did not know which side’s version of history was true, if what Fan Yaoguang said was real, then the current situation of the Four Regions was absolutely terrible.
The existing domain cities could be said to have all originated from the First Domain City. In other words, the current domain cities were very likely under alien rule, and even the entire Four Regions might be under alien control, without anyone knowing it.
At this moment, Qin Mu, who had been silent, looked at Fan Yaoguang and could not help but ask, “Your Excellency Yaoguang, these aliens you speak of, what exactly are they? Do you have any images or other data?”
Lin Qi did not stop Qin Mu’s sudden question; he simply looked at Fan Yaoguang.
Because what Qin Mu wanted to ask was also what he wanted to know.
In the current Four Regions, none of the races seemed overwhelmingly powerful. Even within the four great domain cities, all races coexisted. Even the city lords of the four great domain cities were of different races. It was hard to imagine that the current four great domain cities or even the entire Four Regions were under alien rule.
“Aliens?” Fan Yaoguang could not help but laugh. “Those things are not humans.”
“Not humans?” Qin Mu was surprised. “Then what are they?”
“Bugs. Or things similar to insects,” Fan Yaoguang said. “We are not sure what species they are exactly. We just call them alien spawn. When those things descended, they had all kinds of forms, or rather, various humanoid life forms. Only after we killed many of them did we discover that those alien spawn are parasitic species. All those humanoid beings fighting us had been parasitized. Those alien spawn are very weak on their own and can be easily killed by martial artists. But in turn, the stronger the life they parasitize, the stronger the alien spawn become. And after parasitizing, they can still cultivate and improve.”
As Fan Yaoguang finished, the entire beginner meditation room became incomparably quiet. Wu Zhuoqun and Qin Mu in particular felt a cold chill flood their bodies, their hair standing on end.
If what Fan Yaoguang said was true, then the four great domain cities, or even the entire Four Regions, were basically breeding grounds for these alien spawn. And no one had noticed it at all. People were still desperately cultivating to improve, and all the major cities were trying to send geniuses to the domain cities…
But before Wu Zhuoqun and Qin Mu could recover from this shocking news, Fan Yaoguang dropped another bombshell.
“For over a hundred years, none of our major shelters have seen any alien spawn. We believed those alien spawn gave up ruling our planet because of the environmental mutation and the erosion of abnormals. But just yesterday, I realized we might have been wrong.” Fan Yaoguang sighed and slowly said, “Just yesterday, our ship Dawn took off to investigate the planet’s situation. As soon as we left the atmosphere, we were struck by a beam. The hull, which could withstand attacks from a peak high-level heavenly human realm grandmaster, was directly pierced through, causing us to crash into the East Seventh District.”
“We can basically conclude that in these past hundred years, those alien spawn have not left. We still do not know what they intend to do, but our planet should be under blockade.”
Fan Yaoguang’s words fell like a heavy hammer, smashing hard into everyone’s hearts.
The sky was blocked, and the four regions were ruled by the four great domain cities. If Fan Yaoguang was not lying, then it was almost certain that everyone in the four regions was being domesticated by the alien spawn.
“Is there any way to identify who has been parasitized?” Lin Qi asked.
Compared to the deeply shaken Wu Zhuoqun and Qin Mu, he was not as affected. Whether it was other races or aliens, they were all the same to him as a transmigrator.
However, the insectoid race that Fan Yaoguang described was extremely dangerous, fully deserving the title of enemy of all races. After all, no one wanted to become a puppet controlled by a bug. If no preparations were made early, it would definitely become a huge problem.
“That is very simple. You only need a precise life scan. It is parasitism after all. A scan will show two different life reactions in one body. But this requires a sophisticated life detector. The life signatures of those alien spawn are extremely weak. Old models from a hundred years ago cannot detect them at all,” Fan Yaoguang explained.
“Can I purchase some of your life detectors?” Lin Qi immediately took out a Fruit of Life. “I can exchange with this precious Fruit of Life. It has extraordinary healing power. As long as there is a breath left, it can save a person and can even regenerate severed limbs.”
“It can regenerate severed limbs?” After hearing this, Fan Yaoguang carefully examined the Fruit of Life.
Technology to regenerate severed limbs had not yet been developed in the major shelters. Only after becoming a heavenly human realm grandmaster and fully developing the brain could one achieve limb regeneration.
There were many disabled geniuses in the shelters, especially some who had a chance to impact the heavenly human realm grandmaster but were stopped at the blood condensation realm due to disability. If they could be healed, the shelters might gain another heavenly human realm grandmaster.
At this moment, even the disabled crew members on the Dawn were staring fixedly at the Fruit of Life with burning eyes, wishing they could agree on Fan Yaoguang’s behalf.
Although the Sky Dome Type III Life Detector was expensive, with the value of one unit equal to ten sets of Sky Dome Battle Armor, they could still afford it with their accumulated wealth, even if it meant spending decades of savings. If they could return to normal, they would have a real chance to break through to the heavenly human realm. In comparison, a Sky Dome Type III Life Detector was a small price to pay.
“Hall Master Lin, do you only have one Fruit of Life?” Fan Yaoguang asked.
Seeing clearly that Fan Yaoguang wanted more, Lin Qi did not hide it and said with a smile, “The Fruit of Life is precious and difficult to cultivate. At present, I only have this one. If Your Excellency Yaoguang wants more, it is not impossible, but you will need to bring out more life detectors in exchange.”
“For ten Fruits of Life, our Spark Merchant Guild is willing to offer five Sky Dome Type III Life Detectors. That is the limit of what we can provide right now,” Fan Yaoguang said through gritted teeth, clearly pained.
“Ten Fruits of Life for five life detectors is too expensive. I can offer at most five Fruits of Life,” Lin Qi shook his head.
Life detectors were indeed good things, but the Fruit of Life required an extremely high amount of monster blood and was unique to him. Life detectors were certainly not exclusive to the Sky Dome Shelter. There was no way he would sell cheap.
“Nine.”
“Five.”
“Eight.”
“Five.”
“Seven. That is as low as I can go. The Sky Dome Type III Life Detector is the latest model from our Sky Dome Shelter. It can sense within a hundred kilometers and can also detect abnormals. Other shelters cannot reach such a range at all.”
Fan Yaoguang spoke firmly, with a look that showed he would not retreat further. Although Lin Qi knew that this was when the real bargaining was just beginning, the price had reached his expectations. Considering that he would have to cooperate with the Sky Dome Shelter in the future, he agreed.
“Your Excellency Yaoguang, although the situation is different from what I imagined, I do not intend to change the conditions I mentioned before.” After completing the first transaction, Lin Qi directly stated the requirement for the advanced student quota. “I want to know the exact location of the First City.”
Although he had just learned the earth-shattering secret hidden by the Four Regions, his goal of obtaining the First City’s conversion instrument did not change; if anything, it became more urgent.
Previously, he had only planned to slowly search for a way out within the forbidden zone and solve the problem of the martial arts hall’s shortage of energy blood essence. But now it seemed that the Four Regions where he was located were even more dangerous. He had to quickly improve the martial arts hall’s strength. Otherwise, if he broke with the four great domain cities in the future, the current combat power of the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall would never be enough.
“The exact location of the First City?” Fan Yaoguang was slightly surprised. He had not expected Lin Qi to dare set his sights on the First City. He then nodded. “No problem. But the current location of the First City is not a good place. Because of the great battle back then, too many people gathered there. Many turned into abnormals during the battle, and it has now become a nest of abnormals, making the entire East Seventh District extremely dangerous. Our major shelters do not dare approach it casually.”
As he spoke, Fan Yaoguang sent Lin Qi a detailed map of the East Seventh District and marked the exact location of the First City.
“Thank you for telling me.” Lin Qi looked at the map, ecstatic.
Although the abnormal nest was terrifying, under the players’ resurrection and sheer numbers, it was only a matter of time before it was taken. By then, not only would the entire First City belong to him, it could also serve as a rear base for facing the insectoid race in the future.
After all, the insectoid race had not appeared in the forbidden zone for over a hundred years, which showed that the forbidden zone indeed had a great impact on them. It forced them to blockade but not dare set foot. Otherwise, the major shelters, which were at a disadvantage, would not have enjoyed a century of relative peace.
Lin Qi then instructed Qin Mu to escort Fan Yaoguang and the others to the rest area on the mountain. After that, he told Wu Zhuoqun to take the four Sky Dome Type III Life Detectors they had obtained and distribute them throughout the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, especially to guarantee the safety of Chiyue Town. In addition, they had to ensure that the insectoid race did not infiltrate the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. They needed a thorough screening. Once discovered, targets were to be closely monitored and then dealt with or expelled through “accidents.” In any case, the insectoid race could not be allowed to remain inside the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.
In an instant, the whole Obsidian Martial Arts Hall became busy, making all the major factions nervous. They did not know what madness the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall was up to this time. Not only did it strictly inspect everyone going in and out, it also conducted a thorough inspection of all disciples joining the hall. The factions thought the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall was going to purge their planted members, leaving everyone on edge.
Deep within the Mountain of the Dead, in an underground fortress.
As a pillar of qi and blood shot up to cover the entire fortress, everyone inside was alarmed. The two vice leaders of Smiling Skull waiting outside the secret chamber showed ecstatic expressions.
“Big Brother succeeded.”
“Peak high-level heavenly human realm. Our Smiling Skull now has a grandmaster sitting in town.”
The two vice leaders looked at the tall middle-aged crystal race man slowly walking out of the secret chamber. Their eyes were full of excitement and worship.
A grandmaster.
This title was reserved for those who reached peak high-level heavenly human realm.
The distinction from an ordinary grandmaster existed because the gap between someone who had just entered the high-level heavenly human realm and someone at its peak was simply too great. The minimum standard for high-level heavenly human realm was only 2,400 tons, while the peak could reach 4,800 tons.
The basic strength differed by a full factor of two. In front of a grandmaster at the peak high-level heavenly human realm, a high-level heavenly human realm grandmaster was like a child. Therefore, those at the peak high-level heavenly human realm were all called grandmasters.
These were the experts standing at the very pinnacle of the Four Regions.
With a grandmaster sitting in town, Smiling Skull could become a major power on equal footing with the four great domain cities.
Just as Smiling Skull’s leader Lawson was preparing to celebrate, a loud boom shook the entire underground fortress. An old man and two youths appeared in front of Lawson and the other two.
The three of them stared blankly for a moment when they saw the old man.
Because the old man was none other than Shuang Lang, the city lord of Mist Mountain Domain City, the pride of all half-beast race in the Four Regions, one who stood at its very summit.
“Shuang Lang, what are you doing here? I do not recall inviting you,” Lawson looked at the old man, whose body was just over three meters tall with green beast ears, his gaze turning cold.
Facing Shuang Lang, the city lord of Mist Mountain Domain City, he would have been somewhat wary in the past. But now he was a grandmaster.
Since they were both grandmasters, no one feared the other. If Shuang Lang angered him, he could simply go and overturn Mist Mountain Domain City. Shuang Lang would not be able to do anything about it.
“What am I doing here?” Shuang Lang looked at Lawson with a smiling gaze, as if admiring a work of art. “I have been waiting far too long for you to break through to grandmaster. Fortunately, you did not disappoint. To reach grandmaster at your age surpasses even those peerless geniuses in talent. Now, our family can have another exceptionally gifted grandmaster. It seems my hard work over the years has not been in vain.”
“What do you mean?” Lawson sensed something wrong from Shuang Lang’s strange look and from the two mid-stage heavenly human realm youths beside him whom he had never heard of.
“You do not need to know. You just need to come with me,” Shuang Lang said with a light laugh as he looked at the wary Lawson. “Do not worry, you will not suffer. When you wake up, you will be reborn.”
“Shuang Lang, do you really think I am afraid of you? Now that we are both grandmasters, what can you do to me?” Lawson laughed coldly at Shuang Lang’s attempt to take him away. He drew the third-tier blood-red battle saber from his back and swung it in a slash.
In an instant, a blade light stretching dozens of kilometers split the underground fortress in two. The shockwave spread for several kilometers, killing all martial artists below the bone forging realm.
But when the dust settled, not only was Lawson frozen in place, the two Smiling Skull vice leaders beside him were also dumbfounded.
Lawson’s battle saber was caught midair by a giant hand of nearly solidified qi and blood. The blade could not advance even a fraction further.
“Grandmaster? Do you not know there are differences even among grandmasters?” Shuang Lang smiled and casually threw a punch.
A massive qi and blood hand, almost solid, suddenly blasted toward Lawson. Lawson swung his saber with all his strength to block.
Boom.
The enormous blade shadow formed by his qi and blood phantom shattered under the qi and blood hand. Lawson was blasted hundreds of meters out of the underground bunker, vomiting blood madly. It felt as if all the bones in his body had fallen apart. Before he could recover, Shuang Lang was already standing in front of him. With one hand shaped like a blade, he slashed twice.
Lawson’s four limbs were severed on the spot. He tried to condense a qi and blood phantom to escape, but Shuang Lang grabbed in midair with one hand. A nearly solid qi and blood hand seized Lawson. He could not move at all, hanging there like a dead dog, barely able to breathe. His eyes were full of shock and confusion, completely unable to understand what was happening.
“How is this possible?”
This scene made the two Smiling Skull vice leaders in the bunker collapse to the ground, trembling all over, unable to believe their eyes.
