Chapter 4: Getting Chased by a Boar?
After everything had calmed down, the thousand-zhang giant tower vanished, slowly shrinking back to its original size, hanging quietly against Jiang Yun's chest.
Jiang Yun had long since lost consciousness during the earlier clash. Now, he lay quietly within a glimmering protective barrier, drifting aimlessly into the distance along the chaotic currents of space-time.
"Will this child truly become the hope of the Xie Ling Clan?" Inside the small tower, 'Jiang Hong' reappeared. He was the artifact spirit of this Sacred Object. Looking at the figure quietly sitting cross-legged there, he asked in a soft voice.
That figure was none other than the leader of the Xie Ling Clan, Jiang Ya. His form appeared somewhat illusory at the moment. He was originally a soul clone sealed within the tower, and the strike just now had already consumed most of his power.
He was staring blankly at the small, young figure outside, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps seeking confirmation. "Will you be?" At this moment, confusion flickered in his eyes. As time passed, it gradually hardened into resolve. "You definitely will be!"
The artifact spirit remained silent. As a weapon, he lacked human emotions and could not understand Jiang Ya's expectations for Jiang Yun. As living beings, who would relish being raised like slaves? Being cultivated into machines that knew only slaughter? Being treated as expendable cannon fodder?
It wasn't that Jiang Ya did not wish to change the Xie Ling Clan's circumstances, but rather that hope was far too slim, forcing him to compromise. Fortunately, the emergence of an unusual clansman like Jiang Yun allowed him to see a sliver of hope.
If one could live under the sunlight, who would prefer to hide in dark corners?
"I must also thank you for trusting me!"
Jiang Ya looked at the artifact spirit beside him and spoke. As an Immortal-grade peerless Sacred Object, it had long since birthed its own artifact spirit. Apart from its master, the spirit would not ordinarily allow outsiders to casually leave their power within its body.
The artifact spirit slowly shook its head and said expressionlessly, "Everything was done for the master!"
Jiang Hong had privately altered Jiang Yun's travel route and openly opposed the Saint Demon Emperor. He was absolutely doomed. He had thought too simply of the Saint Demon Emperor, believing that with a wisp of sub-flame, and relying on the power left behind and the small tower, he could subdue the other party. The result was that he almost failed disastrously.
Fortunately, Jiang Ya had used both emotion and reason to persuade him. Ultimately, Jiang Hong's life had prevailed in importance, convincing Jiang Ya to leave behind a portion of his power. Now, looking back, the Saint Demon Emperor was far more terrifying than they had imagined. This hidden backup plan had absolutely saved Jiang Hong's life.
Jiang Ya nodded noncommittally, then turned his gaze toward the Saint Demon Flame suppressed at the tower's base. He spoke slowly, "I will take away the soul imprint within that flame. As for the flame itself, consider it the growth nourishment this clan leader leaves for Jiang Yun. I entrust him to your care from now on."
The artifact spirit slowly nodded and said in a deep voice, "Do not worry. He is the master's grandson. I will absolutely protect him well."
Seeing the artifact spirit's assurance, Jiang Ya said no more. He walked with slow steps toward the tower's base. Just as his figure completely vanished, a voice drifted back. "If one wishes to grow, tempering between life and death is essential. I hope that one day, I might see him on the stage of the Heavenly Sovereigns."
As these words faded, Jiang Ya disappeared entirely from that floor. The artifact spirit pondered thoughtfully over what Jiang Ya had just said.
"Boom—"
Accompanied by a terrifying, earth-shaking sound, where Jiang Yun had departed, a fearsome space-time storm instantly erupted, leaving behind vast expanses of ravaged space.
Outside the Great Thousand World, within the Extraterrestrial Evil Race's domain.
A dark and gloomy grand hall stood. Within it, darkness surged and black energy rose in spirals, as if capable of devouring all life force, making it appear sinister and bone-chillingly cold.
Outside the grand hall, two characters were inscribed: Saint Demon. This was precisely the Saint Demon Emperor's personal palace.
Inside the grand hall, upon a massive black stone throne, sat a figure. This figure's entire body blazed with terrifying demonic flames. Those demonic flames would at times be pitch-black like ink, and at other times radiate a pure, white light. The two cycled and transformed, appearing exceptionally strange and eerie.
Beneath those demonic flames, a gaze utterly devoid of emotion projected outward. At this moment, a trace of surprise flickered within those eyes.
"To have actually lost contact... interesting." A somewhat ethereal and deep voice slowly came from within the demonic flames, its tone carrying a hint of astonishment.
The next instant, terrifying divine light shot forth from the Saint Demon Hall, stirring secret speculation among the many Demon Emperors of the demonic domain as to who had provoked the Saint Demon Emperor.
"So it was an encounter with a space-time turbulence upheaval?"
Not long after, the divine light vanished. A faint voice echoed within the great hall, its tone no longer as calm as before, but rather carrying a chill.
Much later, the figure beneath the demonic flames slowly closed its eyes. A low murmur drifted out. "Forget it. In the end, it was merely an idle chess piece. If he can stand at the summit, then he will inevitably come before me. If he ultimately does not return, then... that is all there is to it."
Within a vast, boundless mountain range, an endless expanse of forest stretched as far as the eye could see. Towering trees reached for the sky. A clear breeze blew, swaying the branches and creating wave after wave of green undulations throughout the forest sea. A primal, savage aura spread out, suffusing this region with silence.
Above it, faintly visible, a bright object wrapped in a green glow was plummeting from the sky at an astonishing speed.
It appeared abruptly, as if emerging straight out of space. The instant it crashed down, it instantly created a crater spanning ten thousand meters, destroying the trees, vegetation, and living creatures within this range at an unimaginable speed.
"Boom—"
That object collided with the ground, forming a huge crater while simultaneously kicking up clouds of dust.
To this stretch of silent, soundless region, this sudden noise was by no means inferior to a major earthquake. The commotion was simply too great.
And it was precisely this commotion that caused countless colossal living beings in the distance to open their closed eyes.
"A treasure has emerged..."
At this moment, countless terrifying figures rushed rapidly toward this area.
Right now, in the area where Jiang Yun had 'crashed,' before he could even react, an unexpected turn of events was already unfolding.
"Thud—"
"Thud—"
"Thud—"
"Roar—"
A terrifying beast's roar resounded. A giant 'wild boar,' standing a full five meters tall, was charging in his direction. Its body was covered in a thick layer of black fur; one glance was enough to tell it was a tough, thick-skinned brute. Its pair of eerie green, fiercely savage eyes were now fully brimming with greed.
It opened its massive maw, revealing sharp tusks. Then its body lunged, charging straight toward the bottom of the crater.
"Damn it! This lord is not a little cabbage! You're chasing the wrong guy!" Accompanied by a heart-rending, childish roar, the next instant, a small, young figure leapt over ten meters high. Hands clutching his backside, two short little legs pumping furiously, he fled at top speed toward the distance.
"Roar—" A furious roar resounded. With a loud 'thud,' the giant 'wild boar' appeared, its eyes bloodshot, giving chase to Jiang Yun.
Not long after this one-man-one-boar pair had left, terrifying beastly figures began arriving one after another at the 'scene of the crime.' Some beasts, unable to hold back, began fighting fiercely among themselves. Others, following the tracks left behind, pursued Jiang Yun.
(End of Chapter)