Chapter 78: Leaving the Village
Mo Yue said, “But…” She only got out those two words before I sealed her little mouth with mine. After a fierce kiss, I pulled the dazed Mo Yue out of the stone chamber.
The air around us was filled with the fresh scent of soil and plants. I was finally free. The two kinds of energy inside me seemed to sense my excitement. They “woke” from their dormant state and swam ceaselessly through my body. I felt as if heaven and earth fused with me into one—no longer any separation. My essence, qi, and spirit reached an unprecedented realm.
“Good kid. No wonder you dared to have big brother come find me. So you already reached the realm of Heaven-and-Human Unity. Fine—then I’ll play a couple of moves with you barehanded.” The moment I heard that voice, I knew Li Feng arrived. Before his words even finished, Tian Yun’s voice sounded. “Don’t fight here. Do you want to ruin this valley?”
I turned back. The elegant Light Guardian Tian Yun and the steady Destroy-Wind War God Li Feng appeared behind me at the same time.
Li Feng said, “Big brother is right. Then let’s fight in the sky.”
In the sky? I could rely on my four wings, but what would he rely on? Would he fly with magic?
Tian Yun quickly answered that for me. He raised his wooden staff high and chanted, “Light elements I guard, lend me the light of protection. Open light’s defense and protect everything before me. Forbidden—Eternal Light Guardian.” As he chanted, the light elements around us surged and gradually fused into a semi-transparent white dome that formed above the valley.
Mo Yue and I both felt uncomfortable, as if it was hard to adapt. I shot her a look and chanted at the same time, “Darkness gathered the soul. Only falling brought freedom. Awaken, endless magic sleeping in my blood.”
As I chanted, I held Mo Yue’s hand. This was her first time transforming into a Four-Winged Fallen Angel. I knew the pain of transformation, so I sent some of my dark magic into her to make it smoother.
Mo Yue screamed and threw her head back. Her black hair lengthened to the point it nearly dragged on the ground. Two purple six-pointed stars appeared beneath our feet. My four wings appeared first. I wrapped an arm around Mo Yue’s slender waist from the front, spread my wings lightly, and in an instant flew beyond the range of the light-element forbidden spell.
Tian Yun’s forbidden spell was entirely outward-facing. Flying out from inside it did not affect us at all.
Up in the sky, I kept sending the gathered dark magic into Mo Yue’s body. Finally, with a tearing sound from her clothes, four enormous wings appeared behind her. Mo Yue let out a long breath. Black light flashed repeatedly in her eyes. She spread her wings and steadied her body with her own power.
Li Feng tapped off the ground with one foot and shot upward. After crossing the protective dome, he actually stood on top of it. No wonder he suggested fighting in the air.
The villagers below were all alarmed. Everyone stopped what they were doing, lifted their heads, and looked up at us.
“Sister, sister, look! Isn’t that big brother Lei Xiang and that cold big sister? Why do they have wings?” A childish voice rose from below. I knew it was Song Song, but I had no time to care. The surging green radiance pouring off Li Feng pressed on me like a mountain.
I said to Mo Yue, “Yue’er, take my sword and fly farther away. Don’t get caught in this. And absolutely don’t come help. The Destroy-Wind War God’s power is not something you can resist.” As I spoke, I pointed her in the direction opposite Dragon Valley. Giant dragons hated Fallen Angels. I did not want pointless trouble.
Li Feng shouted, “No need to leave. The two of you come together. Let’s see if I can handle you.”
Mo Yue looked at me for confirmation. I shook my head. “This is between the two of us. Don’t interfere. Be good. Go.” Mo Yue stuck out her tongue at me and flew off in the direction I indicated. In the blink of an eye, she was only a tiny black dot.
I did not dare stand on the forbidden-spell barrier made of light-element magic the way Li Feng did. I beat my wings and stared down at him from high in the sky.
Li Feng said, “Kid, why aren’t you going berserk? And why did you let that girl take your sword away?”
I said proudly, “As the inheritor of the Mad God, I want a fair fight with you. As for going berserk, that isn’t something I can control. If you can stir my anger, you’ll see it.” As I spoke, I drove the two energies inside me. Dense black mist wrapped around me, and golden light flickered across my body.
Approval showed in Li Feng’s eyes. “Good. I hope you can satisfy my itch. Take this—my fist.” He spread both arms and drew an arc in the air with each. His body twisted in a strange turn, and a green spiral beam of battle energy shot upward.
I roared, “Crazy Arrow Ascends to Heaven!” Golden light exploded across my body as a cone-shaped energy, black and gold intertwined, shot downward. This was the fifth move of the Mad God Thirteen Fists. The black-and-gold energy arrow shrank smaller and smaller in midair. By the instant it met the green radiance, it was less than one-third its original size.
Yet Li Feng’s expression turned solemn. Green radiance flared violently across his body, and the battle-energy beam he released flickered sharply.
The two energies met in midair without making a sound. Li Feng underestimated this highly condensed strike. The Mad God arrow I released tore through his green battle energy and continued shooting downward.
Green radiance and the Crazy Arrow came from opposite directions. Because I prepared for it, I bellowed, “Crazy Battle Rules the World!” Black-and-gold light blazed before me. Another battle-energy pillar burst out and surged upward to meet it.
Li Feng was not prepared. Only when the Crazy Arrow reached him did he react. He discovered that his retreat paths in all directions were completely sealed by its energy. That concentrated power pressed down on him like a mountain, but his War God strength kept him calm. His body swayed, and three Li Fengs appeared in midair. Three sharp streams of green radiance shot from the hands of the three Li Fengs, slamming into my Crazy Arrow one blow after another. His overall strength far exceeded mine. After three impacts, the Crazy Arrow’s energy vanished without a trace.
At the same time, my Crazy Battle Rules the World collided in midair with the green radiance he released earlier. This was a head-on contest.
Boom.
The violent green battle energy blasted me backward dozens of meters. Qi and blood churned inside me. I silently cursed how terrifying he was. If the Crazy Arrow did not pierce through his battle energy first and weaken it, that single blow alone probably would injure me.
Li Feng shouted, “Refreshing! Refreshing! Again!” He tapped the barrier with one foot and hurled himself straight at me.
But I still did not fully recover from the previous collision. I was the Mad God’s inheritor—was I really this weak? Rage surged. I bellowed, “Crazy Wild Meteor!” This was the sixth move of the Mad God Thirteen Fists. Mad God Battle Energy spun at high speed. My body turned into a black-and-gold meteor, accelerating explosively over a short distance as I plunged down to meet Li Feng.
Li Feng’s face lit with delight. He spun his body and roared, “Clear Wind Falling Meteor!” He became a green shooting star and charged upward.
At the instant the two forces collided, there was no sound at all.
Down below, Tian Yun’s face changed. His lips moved rapidly as he recited a long incantation. The light-element protective dome flared brilliantly at once, but the peerless collision between Li Feng and me burst with an even stronger radiance. For a moment, it seemed as if heaven and earth turned bright.
Tian Yun shouted, “Everyone close your eyes immediately!”
As the dome met that radiance, it trembled in a series of shocks. Tian Yun frowned, his mouth still constantly murmuring.
After a long while, the light dimmed. Li Feng and I remained in the same positions as at the start—one above, one below. Only now, Li Feng’s clothes were torn in many places, and his face was a little pale.
I looked even worse. A thin line of blood hung from the corner of my mouth, and my eyes were dim. But my hair, my eyes, and my wings all turned blood-red. The Heart-Protector Mirror, breastplate, shoulder armor, and waist guard—four parts of the Mad God Armor—were worn on my body.
Before that collision, I realized I was not Li Feng’s match. With rage surging, I entered a berserk state and also summoned the usable parts of the Mad God Armor. Even so, I still took a loss.
I clearly understood the Mad God Armor could only support me for a short time. Before I even steadied my breathing, I launched my final strike. As I drove my Mad God Battle Energy to its peak, the armor on my body crackled with streams of golden lightning. My blood-red eyes turned gold. The complex symbol on my forehead flared violently.
I clenched both fists, drew a half-arc in the air in sequence, then pulled them back to my waist. A faint red afterimage appeared in the air. In my berserk state, I forced Mad God Battle Energy to the absolute limit I could sustain.
I raised my head, strained hard, and my already-tattered clothes instantly turned to powder. I said each word heavily, “Li Feng, take my final strike—Crazy—Turn—Reincarnation—!”
My fists thrust forward. They twisted strangely in midair, drawing out layers of blood shadows. My body spun upright, like a blood-red windmill, as it crashed toward Li Feng. This was the strongest strike I could unleash with my current ability.
Under the protective dome, Tian Yun suddenly shouted the moment I began speaking, “Third, be careful. Use your full strength, or you won’t be able to deal with it!”
Li Feng trusted Tian Yun the most. He did not hesitate. Green radiance across his body burned like flames. His body seemed to swell larger as he roared, “Destroy—Wind—War—God—Destroy—Wind—Break—!”
The airflow around him seemed to congeal. With Li Feng’s slowly moving hands, it rotated as if it had form.
My blood-red windmill already crashed down. Li Feng still stood there without moving. One moving, one still—it looked bizarre.
A grim light filled Li Feng’s face. When I was nearly upon him, his body suddenly twisted into a green sphere of light. Red and green light met in midair. Continuous popping impacts rang out from colliding airflows. The defensive dome Tian Yun set up trembled violently. Even the mountains around us seemed to shudder with those impacts.
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the red and green light suddenly overlapped. A dazzling ball of light appeared again. Then the two figures—one red, one green—shot apart. A stream of red-and-green airflow blasted straight up, pierced through the clouds, and shot into the sky.
Pain tore through my entire body. Both the Mad God Armor and my berserk state vanished after Li Feng and I separated. In that final clash, both of us realized that if we kept fighting, only one outcome remained—mutual destruction. So at the last moment, we chose to stop and jointly send the violent energy into the high sky, escaping disaster.
A black shadow flew in at high speed and caught me in midair as I lost balance. I wore no clothes, and my skin was extremely sensitive. From the elastic softness pressing against me, I knew it was Mo Yue.
I drew in my wings, wrapped an arm around her waist, and let my full weight hang on her as I panted.
Li Feng was not much better. His upper clothes were completely gone. He sat alone on the barrier, panting, countless small wounds on his body bleeding. (I had no fewer wounds than he did, but before my berserk state ended, they already healed rapidly.)
Tian Yun flew up from the ground. While removing the barrier, he brought Li Feng down. Mo Yue carried me down slowly as well. The moment we reached the ground, I slid to the floor. Before landing, I barely managed to pull out a piece of clothing from the Jiezi Pouch and cover myself, so I did not completely disgrace myself.
With Tian Yun and Yue Wuyai supporting him, Li Feng barely stood steady. He panted and said, “Good kid. It’s been a long time since I felt this good. You actually fought me to a draw.”
I forced a bitter smile. “What draw? I lost. I only managed to avoid defeat by stacking two transformations on top of the Mad God Armor’s power. If you used full strength from the start, before I went berserk, I’d be dead. In terms of real strength, you’re stronger. It’s just that I also have the ability to drag you into mutual destruction.”
Tian Yun knocked Li Feng on the head. “All you know is fighting and competing. Second brother, send him back and let him recover. Lei Xiang, you two aren’t leaving today either. Leave after your bodies recover.”
In this state, I could not leave even if I wanted to. Mo Yue lifted me up and carried me toward the stone chamber. With her height under 1.7 meters, carrying me—two meters tall and over 200 jin—looked ridiculous. But I truly had no strength left, so it could only be like this.
Just then, a deep dragon roar came from the distance. The huge sound echoed through the mountains again and again. Tian Yun smiled faintly. “The busybodies arrived. But they came too late, didn’t they? Ha.”
Mo Yue froze, not knowing what to do. Another dragon roar sounded, and this time there was an answer—like dozens of giant dragons roaring together. The sound waves were immense, shaking the mountains around us as if they swayed.
Tian Yun shook his head helplessly. “I’ll go explain, so there’s no misunderstanding.” As he spoke, intense white light rose from his body and he floated upward.
At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened. Dozens of giant dragons flew over the village. At the front was Tian Yun’s own mount—Bai Guang, the dragon race’s First Elder.
Tian Yun said politely, “Elder Bai Guang, what brings you here?”
Bai Guang said, “Hello, Tian Yun. Just now, I sensed a massive energy eruption above your area. Its power was not inferior to yours. I feared something happened, so I brought some clansmen over. What exactly was going on?”
Tian Yun said, “Sorry to trouble you. Just now, my troublemaking third brother insisted on sparring with someone. Their strengths matched. It should be the final burst from both of them together that disturbed you. I truly apologize.”
Bai Guang shook his enormous dragon head. “It’s fine. As long as nothing happened on your side. If anything happens, summon me.”
“I will. Thank you, Elder Bai Guang.”
Bai Guang nodded his enormous head and led his clansmen away.
I held Mo Yue around the neck and curled my lips. “Meddling in everything. They show up for everything.” To be honest, having so many giant dragons appear at once still put heavy pressure on me. The Saint Dragon Knights Corps’ hidden strength was too terrifying. If a Dragon King showed up, along with Tian Yun and the others, then even a first-tier deity would have confidence in dealing with it.
Weakly, I said to Mo Yue, “Let’s go back. I’m exhausted.”
The moment I lay back on the bed, before I could speak to Mo Yue, I passed out. But I did not know that this extreme use of energy would bring enormous benefits to my future cultivation. The effect of Spirit Void Stone Milk and the inheritance of the Mad God Theomandis began truly merging with my body.
Morning came. I woke up. It felt like all the energy I spent yesterday already recovered. I stretched my limbs and felt indescribably comfortable. Mo Yue curled against me like a kitten, wearing only close-fitting underclothes. Yesterday’s intense night was still vivid in my mind. Heat surged in my chest. I hugged her body, and my hand slipped under her clothes.
Mo Yue let out a soft whimper and woke up. She pressed down my mischievous hand. “Hate you. You’re not allowed to mess around today. Look—it’s already light. Get up. Didn’t we say we’re leaving here?”
I chuckled. “What’s wrong with spending a little longer? Yue’er, you’re too cute. You’re too tempting. I can’t hold back.”
It was true. After yesterday, Mo Yue’s charm seemed to increase a lot. Even her temperament subtly changed. Maybe it was dark magic at work.
Mo Yue said angrily, “No. Get up. You forgot what people said about us yesterday.” As she spoke, her face reddened.
So she meant what Tian Yun said about our voices. I teased, “Then just be quieter.”
Mo Yue pinched my thigh and muttered, embarrassed, “When it got to that last moment, how could I endure it? Hate you. Get up.”
I failed to grab her. She slipped out from under the blanket. With our strength recovered, we no longer feared the cold. Since she escaped, I had no choice. I climbed out of bed, unwillingly.
Mo Yue helped me dress and said gently, “We’ll leave here in a bit.”
I nodded. “Yes. I’m finally free.”
After washing up and eating breakfast, Mo Yue and I packed a little and walked out of the stone house. Looking at this familiar village, I felt an empty heaviness. I turned and asked Mo Yue, “Where did you come in from?” When I was brought here, I was unconscious. Now I could only barely tell directions, but I didn’t know the exit route.
Mo Yue pointed at the mountains to the west. “I came from that side. The mountains here rise and fall. If Mo Ming didn’t share a connected aura with you, I really wouldn’t be able to find this place.”
I took out a map from the Jiezi Pouch and spread it on the ground. “Mark it on the map. That way, if we come again, it’ll be easy to find.”
Mo Yue said in surprise, “You still want to come back here? For what?”
I chuckled. “To find a wife.”
Mo Yue grabbed my ear at once, furious. “What did you say?”
“Ow—be gentler. Listen to me.”
Mo Yue said domineeringly, “I won’t listen. With me and sister Zi Yan and the others, you’re still not satisfied? You still want to find a wife? You think I’ll spare you? Do those little village girls tempt you that much?” As she spoke, she twisted my ear harder.
I cried out repeatedly and begged, “No, no—who can compare to you in charm? Listen—this isn’t what you think!”
Only after I praised her charm did Mo Yue loosen her grip a little. I thought, this really was asking for trouble. But seeing Mo Yue jealous still made sweetness rise in my heart. To stop the misunderstanding from growing, I hurriedly explained, “It’s like this. Do you remember that nine-headed snake-man we saw at the capital of Dunder Province back then? That’s my big brother. For the nine-headed serpent race to continue their bloodline, they must find a dragon race partner. On the other side of the mountains is the dragon race’s settlement. I want to bring big brother Panzong here to find a wife. I’m not finding a wife for myself.”
Mo Yue released my ear. She gently rubbed my already-red ear and complained, “Then why didn’t you say so clearly? Serves you right.”
I moved my ear. The pain eased a little. I gave a bitter smile. “I just wanted to tease you. Who knew you’d react so strongly.” Mo Yue shot me an angry look. I hurriedly changed tone. “My fault, my fault. All right? Hurry and mark it.”
Mo Yue flattened the map and looked carefully. Her finger traced from the direction of Stru Fortress all the way into the Dragon God Empire’s interior, winding and twisting, and finally stopped deep within a vast mountain region in Rui’er Province. I looked at the text on the map. It read: Rui’er Mountain Range.
I asked, “Are we here?”
Mo Yue said firmly, “It should be here.”
I carefully checked the direction again, memorized the location, then folded the map away. I looked at Mo Yue. “We should go.”
Mo Yue seemed to see my mood. “What? Still a little reluctant?”
I nodded slightly. “Yes. I lived here for over half a year. Of course I have some feelings. Let’s leave quietly.” With that, I held Mo Yue’s small hand and walked east along the mountainside. According to the map, if we went out that way and crossed several more mountains, we would leave the Rui’er Mountain Range.
White light flashed. Tian Yun appeared in front of us. He smiled at us. “Leaving?”
I nodded. “Yes. We’re leaving. You’re not going to stop us, are you?”
Tian Yun said, “Do I look like someone who goes back on his word? Let me see you off. Consider it an apology for imprisoning you these days. I know these paths better.”
Mo Yue and I exchanged a glance. I said, “The villagers here are truly simple and honest. There’s none of that petty, mercenary air from outside. I hope you can protect them well—especially the young ones. I think they long for the outside world. Don’t let them go down the wrong path.”
Tian Yun sighed. “I noticed that too. I’ll pay attention. All right, let’s go. You still have a journey ahead.”
He raised his wooden staff, closed his eyes, and his lips moved slightly. White light spread from his body and wrapped the three of us. Tian Yun used his magic very carefully: the innermost layer was a water-element barrier, and only outside that was the light-element magic he excelled at. That way it wouldn’t conflict with our dark magic.
The ball of light slowly rose off the ground. Once it rose above the surrounding peaks, it suddenly accelerated, shooting into the distance like a white meteor.
The scenery beneath us swept by without stopping. We often passed through vast clouds piled like cotton. Mo Yue and I also had this ability, but every time we flew we had to regulate our energy. We never focused on watching. Only now did I realize the scenery in the sky was so beautiful—everything lay beneath our feet, giving me the feeling of ruling the world.
Tian Yun seemed to see my thoughts. While controlling the light sphere, he sighed. “The continent’s scenery is always so beautiful. I truly don’t want war to destroy this peaceful sight. Lei Xiang, do you know? Once war erupts between the God Realm and the Netherworld, even with the Father God’s barrier separating them, some inexplicable disasters always fall upon the human realm. To protect the human realm, I hope you do everything you can to avoid war in the future. The human realm is the foundation of the God Realm and the Netherworld.”
Though I found that last sentence somewhat inexplicable, I still nodded reflexively.
The scenery below gradually grew larger. We already crossed the Rui’er Mountain Range and descended toward the ground. I noticed a faint sheen of sweat on Tian Yun’s forehead. This was the first time I ever saw him show strain. Using magic alone to carry people in flight truly consumed enormous power.
The white light dispersed and we landed quietly on the ground. Tian Yun pointed at the main road to the east. “Follow this road straight and you’ll leave Rui’er Province. As for where you want to go, that’s none of my business.” He sighed. “I really am old. Otherwise, I could send you farther.”
This was the first time I felt the weight of time on him. There was no hatred left in my heart. I said respectfully, “You already sent us very far. Don’t worry—what I promised, I will do. Besides, even if I go to the God Realm in the future, that will probably be decades, even a hundred years from now. The Mad God’s inheritance isn’t that easy to absorb.”
Tian Yun looked at me with meaning. “That’s hard to say. All right. Go.”
I nodded and, for the first time, gave Tian Yun a respectful salute. Toward this elder who grieved for the world, I felt nothing but respect.
Tian Yun extended both hands and lifted us up. “Take care.”
I looked at Tian Yun—someone I once hated to the bone—and said with feeling, “There’s a child in the village named Song Song. I can tell his talent is very good. You can cultivate him well. Maybe in a few decades, he’ll become a pillar of the Saint Dragon Knights Corps.”
Tian Yun paused. “Is that so? I didn’t pay much attention to village matters. Since you say so, I’ll pay attention.” With Tian Yun’s “attention,” I figured Song Song and his sister would rise quickly. Consider it something I did for them. Their talent really was good.
“We’re leaving. Goodbye.”
Tian Yun nodded. “Goodbye. Remember—commit less slaughter.” White light flashed, and he vanished where he stood.
Mo Yue tugged me while I was still dazed. “Let’s go.”
I held her soft little hand and looked at her deeply. I let out a joyful howl, pulled Mo Yue into my arms, and pushed off the ground, rushing forward. Mo Yue nestled in my arms like a docile lamb, not using any strength at all, letting me carry her entirely. I enjoyed it and simply lifted her full, soft body and traveled at speed.
After walking for about half a day, a large city appeared ahead and the number of people around us increased. Many vendors lined the roadside, calling out as they sold their goods. Mo Yue jumped down from me, looking here and there with curiosity at everything. Helpless, I followed behind her as she browsed and picked.
I thought she probably suffered a lot on her way to find me. Half a year already passed. Delaying a few more days didn’t matter. I let her choose freely. Seeing her happy made my heart feel warm.
Mo Yue picked up a cloth tiger from a stall and turned her head. “Husband, is this good?”
I stepped forward and took the cloth tiger from her. The workmanship wasn’t very fine, but it looked vivid and lifelike. I smiled. “If you like it, buy it.”
Mo Yue hopped lightly, hooked her arms around my neck, hung on me, kissed my face, and smiled. “Husband, you’re so good.”
The cloth-tiger vendor laughed. “You two are a perfect match. I’ll give you this cloth tiger as a gift.”
The vendor looked to be in his forties. At a glance, he seemed like an honest man. I wrapped an arm around Mo Yue. “How could we accept that?” I took out a silver coin and placed it on the vendor’s stall. Then I picked up the cloth tiger and said to Mo Yue, “Are you going to keep hanging on me? Not going to look at anything else?”
Mo Yue released me and, with my support, landed on the ground. She laughed sweetly. “Of course I’m looking. We don’t have any of these things where I’m from. I want to pick a lot and bring them back as gifts.”
I smiled. “Then pick as much as you want. I’ll just pay.”
Mo Yue cheered and plunged into the stalls outside the city. Because she carried an astonishing allure, every vendor gave fair prices.
An hour later, I already began to regret it.
My arms, shoulders, hands, and neck were all hung with what she bought. In front of all these people, I couldn’t use the Jiezi Pouch to store them. I could only follow behind her with a miserable face.
Every time Mo Yue bought something, she told me, “Good husband, just one more little round, okay? Don’t rush.” What could I say? I could only keep following.
By the time we entered the large city ahead, two more hours passed. From the outside, you could barely see me. My body was completely wrapped in goods.