Chapter 78: Unknown Celestial Artifact Holders, the Outskirts Washed by Artillery Fire

This indifference, towering above all life, treating all things as grass and weeds, wielding the power to decide life and death with a mere whisper.

Perhaps Zhong Lao’s strength might surpass the other’s, but unquestionably, the other possessed power that, in their eyes, was like that of a god.

“Really, because I was there—you think the video only shows the mutated creatures freezing and lying down in submission? I wanted to kneel too.”

“Since you weren’t there, you don’t understand how we felt—I can only tell you it was an indescribable sense of suppression, as if we and the other weren’t even the same level of life.”

“But isn’t this video too clear? Did the Tian Shu Bureau release it themselves?”

Someone replied to his comment—they were an actual participant at the scene.

He woke up due to the commotion outside during the Qi tide, opened the window, and saw chaos: mutated cats and dogs tearing at pedestrians. Without hesitation, he grabbed the stick he’d bought after awakening his ability and jumped out the window.

Because he was a Tizhiqianghua -type ability user, several stories’ height meant nothing to him.

After eliminating those few mutated pets, he followed Tian Shu Bureau personnel to clear other areas—but by then, he wasn’t using the stick anymore; he used a gun, given to him by the Tian Shu Bureau.

He didn’t refuse, and couldn’t refuse.

Why use a stick when you have a gun? He wasn’t an idiot.

Along the way, they killed countless mutated creatures; under overwhelming firepower, those creatures couldn’t inflict any damage on them.

Even the mutated rat swarms only caused them minor trouble.

He also saw many Tian Shu Bureau ability users, even those with Sharingan eyes—though strong, none were much stronger than him, all within his understanding.

He had originally thought the Hangcheng Tian Shu Bureau’s strength was limited, not matching the notes on the Superhuman Rankings that mentioned powerful individuals absent due to special reasons—when suddenly, a colossal beam of light appeared nearby, and a being like a god stood within it.

What followed was exactly what the video recorded.

It was the first time he so clearly felt the gap in power—under that pressure, not just the mutated creatures, but even he wanted to kneel.

Fourth stage! At least fourth stage! He even thought the other might be fifth stage.

Because of that casual demeanor—he absolutely wouldn’t believe the other had used full strength.

Later, he asked Tian Shu Bureau personnel about the other’s identity; though they didn’t tell him and their expressions were strange, it was undeniable they recognized him.

So, barring unexpected circumstances, the other was a strong figure from the Hangcheng Tian Shu Bureau.

But due to the other’s special status, he couldn’t know his identity.

Yet given the video’s clarity and the multiple angles shown, it couldn’t possibly have been secretly filmed—it seemed to him the Tian Shu Bureau released it themselves.

Isn’t it supposed to be confidential? How could they release it then?

Could it be that, now that the Qi tide has arrived, there’s no need to hide anymore?

“If this isn’t officially released by the Tian Shu Bureau, I’ll eat my words—but Da Xia still hides such powerful ability users? Fourth stage? Or fifth? I’ve seen the video of Zhong Lao using Heaven’s Motion and All Things—I felt it was inferior to this one.”

“Zhong Lao definitely didn’t use his full strength back then—even less than that; the Qi tide hadn’t come yet, and the mutated creatures weren’t strong. This one in the video clearly didn’t use full strength either—I think both might be fifth stage.”

“That doesn’t make sense—the Tian Shu Bureau’s earlier announcement said only two others besides Zhong Lao had reached fifth stage, and neither were from our country? But the Tian Shu Bureau never said those two fifth-stagers weren’t from Da Xia—could we have three fifth-stage experts?”

“There are definitely two now; whether the third is from Da Xia is unknown. But I’m curious: what Celestial Artifact does he hold? Just from the video, it’s impossible to guess.”

“True—the only unusual thing is the golden Qi, but you still can’t tell what Celestial Artifact it is. It’s almost as if he didn’t use any Celestial Artifact at all and still killed those mutated creatures so easily—how terrifying would his power be if he did use one?”

“I’ll wait to see Hangcheng Tian Shu Bureau’s response. Since they released this video, the other’s identity probably doesn’t need to stay hidden anymore—we’ll find out soon.”

“You’re right, now that you mention it.”

“.”

No one knew whether the figure in the video was fourth or fifth stage—but from what they saw, his power was almost certainly no weaker than Zhong Lao’s.

This led many to wonder what Celestial Artifact he had obtained to possess such terrifying power so early.

Zhong Lao gained the Rock King Emperor’s template to attain fifth-stage power at this point—what Celestial Artifact did the other obtain to wield such strength?

The possibility that the other wasn’t a Celestial Artifact holder at all, but merely a regular ability user, was never mentioned—everyone knew a mere ability user could never possess such power.

No matter how high one’s talent, it was impossible.

Humanity has limits—unless he wasn’t human.

Outside the city, the smoke of artillery had not yet fully cleared; the blackened earth resembled land scorched by heavenly fire, utterly devastated.

Massive craters, like scars left by meteor impacts, dotted the wasteland one after another, their bottoms filled with dark red blood mixed with unburned debris, emitting a pungent stench of char.

The severed limbs of mutated beasts lay scattered everywhere; a few surviving mutated wolves huddled at the crater’s edge, their fur burned and peeling, revealing blackened skin beneath.

Gazing toward the distant silhouette of the human city, their amber eyes held deep fear and reverence.

Unlike the mutated creatures within the city that still caused casualties, those outside had endured true slaughter.

Countless artillery shells rained from the sky like divine punishment, turning the entire wasteland into a hell of death; the whistling shells tore through the air, their explosions obliterating all life within dozens of meters upon impact.

Vast quantities of munitions fell like rain, each bomb precisely harvesting entire groups of life.

Those mutated beasts that barely survived the first bombardment soon realized they had nowhere to flee; drone swarms circled overhead, thermal imagers locking onto every living target; armed helicopters patrolled low, their cannon flames licking every inch of ground.

Even underground wasn’t safe—bunker-busting bombs would blast any creature hiding in burrows, along with the entire nest, into the sky.

Guys, I asked the editor—probably going live tomorrow at noon. I came up with a great idea to add to the later plot—maybe you can look forward to it a little; but don’t get too excited, or I’ll be under too much pressure—just a little.

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(End of Chapter)