Chapter 516: I Think I Can't Beat Him

He had thought wrong.

More precisely, he had misjudged the gap between them.

The Chang Yao Zunzhu, already at the peak of the Return-to-Void realm, the moment he learned the identity of that Third Investigator, had knelt without the slightest hesitation.

His posture humble, his heart awash with dread.

Just like those ant-like subjects in his domain who prostrated themselves out of fear of his power.

The moment that scene unfolded, he knew his plan would not work.

But still, he did not understand!

He did not understand why a Chang Yao Zunzhu at the peak of the Return-to-Void realm would grovel before a mere human Investigator.

That was Return-to-Void, after all…

A supreme being who walked the starry sky under the title of 'Zunzhu', revered by all races, capable of shaking the very firmament.

Until that one line—

Ascended to Soul Transformation at twenty-two, the foremost prodigy under heaven.

That was a sentence that utterly transcended his comprehension.

Through his contact with the Fuling Interstellar Council over these past several hundred years, he had come to understand, more or less, certain concepts of the human race.

Precisely because he had seen that the majority of races within the Council pursued and emulated the humans,

he had taken to wearing a Daoist robe, donned a wig, and ordered his craftsmen to forge a sword from the finest materials.

And precisely because of this, he understood all too well the terror contained in that sentence.

Twenty-two years old — meaning this Third Investigator had, in only twenty-two standard years, risen from nothing to cultivate to the Soul Transformation realm.

Twenty-two years…

Averaged out, the leftover fraction of time it took him to break through a single minor realm was already more than that!

If even a single human Investigator was like this, then what of the humans behind her?

The implications of it all — he did not even dare think them through.

Of course, they were not given the chance to think it through either, for the Chang Yao Zunzhu promptly brought them back to Han Xie Star (the Seventh Planet).

During that process, he had also calmed down.

What if, although this Third Investigator's talent was extremely high, she was, like the First Investigator, not very bright?

Jige had also thought of this point, and so he opened his mouth and spoke that line.

The result was — they had thought wrong.

That Third Investigator did not fall for it at all; instead, with just a few words she had goaded Chang Yao into acting, nearly wiping Jige out.

But what he found hardest to accept of all was the strength the Third Investigator subsequently revealed.

Clearly several minor realms below him, yet she gave him the feeling that his life and death were no longer his own to command.

Even without Chang Yao, she could easily have killed him, Jige, and Jiu Fu with the greatest of ease.

And yet she still wore that joking, playful attitude…

This left him, who had always been proud and arrogant, in unspeakable torment.

But he could only endure!

He had thought he would have to go on enduring like this for the rest of his life — fortunately, however…

Wu Qi lowered his head and opened his right hand.

On the blue-black skin lay winding palm lines, and embedded right at the center was a gorgeous purple scale, crystalline and translucent, with fine star-sand flowing within.

As if it were the most perfect creation in all the world, a work of art meticulously carved by the Great Dao itself — no language could describe even a ten-thousandth of its perfection.

A scale of a Dao-Soldier Strange Beast!

It utterly transcended Return-to-Void, standing on the same tier as Dao Merging — a supreme creation forged personally by a being above Cave-True.

Born of the hand of a true supreme being, and having already adapted to the rules of the Four Directions Star Domain, there was no one who, with nothing to rely on, could deduce its location.

'The supreme Cang race…'

Purple intent surfaced once more in his eyes, intertwining with the crimson pupils, gradually dyeing and eroding them.

In a daze, he saw scene after scene.

Under the guidance of the supreme Cang race, the myriad races of the starry sky lived in harmony; all things followed nature, with orderly birth and death; the human race, because of its sins, had long since perished…

Hmm?!

The myriad races of the starry sky living in harmony, all things following nature, with orderly birth and death?!

No!

That's not right!

This was not what he wanted!

Wu Qi's heart instinctively recoiled — why should he live in harmony with those lowly, insignificant ants?

The very instant this thought arose in his heart,

The scale of the Dao-Soldier Strange Beast in his palm seemed to receive a feedback as well; the fine star-sand flowing within suddenly accelerated, as if it had dispelled some lingering obsession that had been hovering over it.

The scenes Wu Qi saw in his eyes changed accordingly.

This time, he sat high upon the peak of a nebula, surrounded by adoring stars, gazing down upon the ant-like masses of living beings, with all spirits prostrating themselves before him.

Even a galaxy encompassing hundreds of billions of stars was nothing more than a thing within his cup.

The universe bows its head, all spirits pay homage!

The sight before his eyes made him so excited that his whole body trembled.

Yes!

That's right!

This is exactly what I wanted!

The crimson pupils were entirely consumed by violet, as ripples like water spread through her eyes.

Wu Qi's eyes seemed to have gained a translucent, glasslike quality, shimmering with seven-colored light.

Hatred toward the human race quietly grew, and in an instant became a towering tree!

Wild power surged from the scales on his palm, allowing him to effortlessly cross that impossible limit.

Feeling his explosive surge of strength, a cruel smile crept onto his face.

……

……

The next day.

The sky was bright.

Because it had not been modified by Star Refiners, the day-night cycle of the Seventh Planet did not match that of the Central Continent.

The snow and wind in Wang Cheng had cleared, and after a long absence, a brilliant sunny day arrived.

Inside the Wang Palace.

Chi Jiu Yu stood before the Wang Zuo, beside him stood Chang Yao, leaning on a cane.

Ji Ge, tall and clad in a blue robe, and Chong Ren Jiu Fu, dressed in a crisp suit, stood respectfully below the Wang Zuo.

"The Seventh Planet is fine. Next, investigate the Sixth Planet."

Besides the data recorded by the micro-energy satellite, she had also used her divine sense to thoroughly examine the Seventh Planet.

The result was still normal.

Then they could only check the other two planets.

If there's still no issue, there's no point wasting time—finish this mission quickly.

After all, everything that needed to be done has been done.

"By the way, what about the other one?" Chi Jiu Yu asked casually.

Ji Ge and Jiu Fu exchanged glances, then spoke in unison:

"Your Immortal Envoy, we do not know."

They truly did not know what Wu Qi was doing.

Chang Yao bowed and said: "Immortal Envoy, shall I go and summon him...?"

"No need. Whether he comes or not makes no difference—I'll go to him myself." Chi Jiu Yu waved her hand.

She had only asked out of curiosity.

"Your Immortal Envoy, your benevolent heart moves me."

One doesn't strike a smiling face.

Since this Investigator from the Sword Sect has come here to carry out a mission, it proves even Fu Ling Zhenjun cannot touch her.

Though I can no longer expect her help as before, at least I must not leave a bad impression.

A Soul Transformation at twenty-two—she might become a figure like Fu Ling Zhenjun any day. I dare not offend her.

"Alright, then..."

Boom!

A deafening roar shook the entire Wang Cheng; the Wang Palace swayed precariously.

Bright sunlight streamed through the suddenly vanished roof of the Wang Palace, falling upon the Wang Zuo carved from black ice, refracting into countless rainbow beams.

Chi Jiu Yu squinted, looking up toward the Wang Palace's roof.

Amid the drifting violet particles of annihilation, Wu Qi stood midair, his vividly colored attire wild and mysterious.

His eyes—half crimson, half deep violet—looked down upon everything within the Wang Palace, brimming with hatred.

Ji Ge: "..."

Though it felt terribly untimely, but...

This is my Wang Palace.

"Wu Qi! How dare you!" Chang Yao barked coldly.

But Wu Qi ignored him entirely, fixing only Chi Jiu Yu with eyes overflowing with hatred so intense it could topple mountains and rivers and sever the Jianghe.

Chi Jiu Yu: "..."

Wait, why are you suddenly so full of hatred toward me?

Is this what they call "the more you step back, the angrier you get"?

"Despicable human, dare you fight me!"

Hearing this, Chi Jiu Yu froze, then immediately understood.

She was far too familiar with these words.

She raised her hand to stop Chang Yao from moving, then slowly rose until she hovered at the same height as Wu Qi, Expression Grew Serious:

"Biological Weapon Core Corruption?"

Chang Yao: "..."

Holy shit!

This monster has gone mad!

Chang Yao was truly panicked now.

Though humans are strong, they rarely interfere in the internal affairs of other star-faring races—except in one unique case—

Biological Weapons!

Any discovery triggers the thunderous punishment of total racial annihilation.

What good would it do for me to run here?

"Hah." As if savoring the despair of this vile human, he made no move to strike, "What is a biological weapon core? What I possess is a Dao Soldier Sacred Beast..."

Hm?!

Fuck!

Chi Jiuyu's scalp prickled, every hair on his body stood on end, and he shuddered violently!

"Sacred Beast scales!"

"..."

You fucking scared the hell out of me.

The moment she heard "Dao Soldier Strange Beast," she nearly screamed, "Master, save me!"

So it's just scales after all!

"With your life as sacrifice, I hail the Supreme * Clan!"

Again, this * Clan!

Hum~!

Amid the sword's resonance, a pure white sun erupted above the palace, sweeping across all directions!

Carrying a ferocious and pure killing intent.

Boom!

Heaven and earth trembled!

A crimson sword light followed closely, spreading across the sky and earth in mere moments.

Then, as the Four Symbols rotated, all fell into stillness.

It transformed into a Four Symbols Stillness Sword Wheel roaring forward.

The Sword of Killing, a technique learned from Xu Xing, and her own creation—the Four Symbols Stillness Sword Wheel!

She unleashed her full power at once, not holding back an inch!

The three sword lights intertwined and entwined, annihilating everything in their path, carving thin spatial fissures.

Wu Qi never had time to react before he was swallowed by the sword light.

Extreme brightness drowned out all vision, yet vanished instantly into hollow emptiness.

All senses seemed severed; the utter void instilled primal terror in every living being.

One instant?

Or eternity?

In the experience of severed senses, it was impossible to tell how much time had passed.

When Ji Ge and Jiu Fu regained their senses, the sky was clear and pure—only the Human Investigator remained standing aloft, sword in hand.

They were dazed.

Wu Qi... dead?

Yet the question vanished from their minds in an instant, replaced by certainty.

Wu Qi was definitely dead!

Yes!

Under such an outrageous attack, even if Wu Qi were stronger than them, he could not possibly have survived!

Then they saw Chi Jiuyu descend from atop the palace.

"Immortal Envoy my lord!" Chang Yao cried out hastily.

Chi Jiuyu scratched his head:

"I think... I couldn't have beaten him." (End of Chapter)