Chapter 165: Fugaku Recognizes Martial Arts

The Corpse Nest's offspring only felt darkness before his eyes, his consciousness falling into brief chaos. When he regained awareness again, he discovered himself situated in a stretch of void-like space.

There were no reference points in any direction, as if the entire world had been stripped away, leaving only endless void. The Corpse Nest's offspring wanted to move, yet discovered that even the concept of direction did not exist here.

"Who's playing ghost tricks! Get out here!!!"

The Corpse Nest's offspring's roar reverberated long in the void, but the only response was a stretch of dead silence. Just as he prepared to speak again, a faint light suddenly lit up in the void ahead.

That faint light started only the size of a needle tip, yet expanded at an inconceivable speed in an instant. In the blink of an eye, a light sphere brilliant as the sun appeared before him.

"This is... what thing?"

The Corpse Nest's offspring only felt his body appear incomparably tiny before this light sphere, like an ant gazing up at the sun. It was a power transcending the level of life, as if the entire world were looking down on him.

Suddenly, an emotionless mechanical voice rang out in the void.

【Detected uncertified anomalous lifeform entering Main God Space】

【Status: Consciousness fused with Summoned Beast】

【Executing handling plan: Erase consciousness】

Before the Corpse Nest's offspring could react, that light sphere suddenly erupted with a piercing white light. The white light pierced through its body like a sharp sword, yet brought no pain whatsoever.

"What?!"

The Corpse Nest's offspring instantly felt a terrifying power invade his mind. He struggled desperately, yet discovered he didn't have even a shred of ability to resist, his consciousness dissolving bit by bit.

"No! No! This is impossible! I am an existence about to step into the God Realm! How could it be possible" The Corpse Nest's offspring let out an unwilling scream, his eyes flashing with extreme terror.

The next second, his voice cut off abruptly. His soul core turned into specks of light dissipating in the void, as if he had never existed at all.

【Anomalous lifeform cleared】

【Summoned Beast returned to its belonging world】

The cold mechanical voice rang out once more, the void returning to calm.

………………………………

On the battlefield, Fugaku lay on ground covered in ruins. His whole body's bones felt like they would fall apart. Overuse of the Sharingan made his consciousness begin to blur, his vision filled with mottled blood color.

"Why... hasn't the mission prompt appeared yet?" Fugaku breathed with difficulty, a wave of unease surging in his heart. "Could it be it's not over yet?"

Suddenly he heard bursts of rumbling from afar. He barely lifted his head to look, only to see a massive fleet appear at the sky's edge. Dense warships blocked out half the sky.

Immediately after, a clear mechanical voice entered his ears: "Detected Yan Huang member, preparing to implement rescue."

Fugaku wanted to say something, but his consciousness had already begun to rapidly dissipate. The scene before his eyes gradually turned into a stretch of darkness. His body went limp, and he completely lost consciousness.

…………

A strand of icy cool touch let Fugaku slowly recover consciousness. He opened his eyes with difficulty, discovering he was floating in a pool filled with pale green liquid. Countless tiny bubbles continuously emerged and vanished before his eyes.

He lowered his head to look at his own body, discovering it was inserted full of various tubes, continuously conveying unknown liquid into his body.

"Vital signs all normal, nutrient solution concentration maintained at optimal level." A clear female voice came from above his head.

Only to see outside many staff wearing white uniforms walking back and forth. They all held strangely shaped instruments in hand, occasionally pointing and gesturing before floating holographic screens, whispering to each other.

"What place is this?" Fugaku's brows slightly furrowed. He raised his hand to tear off the tubes on his body, bracing against the cabin wall to stand up from the nutrient pool.

"Patient please don't act randomly" A female nurse heard the sound and turned around. Seeing the scene before her, her face instantly flushed completely red, and she hurriedly turned away.

"Uh" Fugaku blanked for a moment, then immediately noticed his own clothes already neatly arranged placed beside the culture tank. He promptly put them on with practiced movements.

Just at this moment, a faint hum rang out in his mind. The mission panel automatically floated into view: 【Main Quest: Virus Terminator】

【Mission Countdown: 25 days】

"What's going on?" Fugaku's pupils suddenly contracted. His expression became abnormally grave. "The mission not only wasn't completed, the remaining time actually decreased by five days? What exactly happened?"

Fugaku recalled the events before his coma. That tragic battle, the scene after scene of unsealing the Summoning Technique, emerged before his eyes.

"Poisonous woman!" Fugaku suddenly remembered something. He hurriedly checked the Summoning Mark's status.

The next second, Fugaku frowned. At this moment the Summoning Mark had already undergone a mutation. The originally pitch-black mark's surface was covered with a layer of eerie blood color, faint red light flowing and turning.

"Only by summoning it out can I confirm the situation, but in this kind of place."

"Captain, that patient has already woken up!" At this moment the nurse quickly ran out of the medical room.

Several guards wearing black uniforms surrounded a familiar figure and walked in. Fugaku fixed his gaze and saw it was actually Tu Shu.

The current Tu Shu had almost turned into the appearance of an ordinary old man. His figure had thinned a large circle, but those eyes still flashed with a heart-palpitating sharp light.

"Comrade Fugaku, you've finally woken." Tu Shu revealed a smile on his face. Speaking, he still used that familiar official tone: "These days have made everyone worry quite a bit! The Organization has attached high importance to this matter."

"Captain Tu?" Fugaku widened his eyes, his voice carrying disbelief. "You weren't..." The words spoken halfway were swallowed back. In his memory, the other party had clearly already been sucked dry by the Corpse Nest's offspring.

Tu Shu seemed to see through his doubt. He bitterly smiled and waved his hand: "Thanks to the laboratory's newly developed Life Revitalizing Agent, this old life counts as preserved. But the price isn't small either. Internal meridians damaged. From now on there's no way to go on the battlefield." Speaking he pointed at his own figure that had thinned a circle.

"Let's go out for a walk first." Tu Shu dismissed the surrounding guards. "Staying in the medical cabin too long, need to move around."

Although Fugaku had a belly full of questions, he still nodded and followed Tu Shu out of the treatment room. The medical area's corridor was spacious and bright. The floor could reflect a person. Passing staff all stood at attention and saluted upon seeing Tu Shu.

"This place is?" Fugaku couldn't help but ask.

"This is one of Yan Huang Du Cheng's secret bases," Tu Shu explained while walking. "Normally used for some classified research and special personnel treatment. All are the most cutting-edge medical equipment. If your injury were put in an ordinary hospital, without a month or two don't even think about waking up."

There weren't many people in the cafeteria. Most were researchers wearing white coats. Tu Shu familiarly ordered a few dishes. Soon a table of sumptuous food was served up.

"Taste this braised lion's head." Tu Shu pointed at one of the dishes. "This is our cafeteria's signature dish. Right, call me Lao Tu."

Only now did Fugaku discover he was indeed terribly hungry. In three moves and two removals he swept clean the rice and dishes in his bowl.

"Eat slowly. These days you've been soaking in nutrient liquid the whole time." Lao Tu said with a smile. "Right, the matter on H City's side, you've rendered great merit. Originally wanted to hold a commendation conference for you. Unfortunately domestic affairs have been too many this period. Can only push it back."

Fugaku put down his bowl and chopsticks, asking with grave expression: "How did H City end up in the end?"

Tu Shu's expression turned grave: "According to our investigation, what appeared in H City before was merely a layer of skin shed by the Corpse King. It was a ruse it used to lure the tiger from the mountain. This guy deliberately lured us there. Thinking back now, we were all played around in circles by it." "What?" Fugaku's face suddenly changed. "Where is the Corpse King now?"

At this moment Fugaku's expression became incomparably grave. If the Corpse King couldn't be found within the mission deadline, the mission couldn't be completed. That would mean he would be trapped in this world — absolutely the worst situation.

"Rest assured." Tu Shu seemed to see through his worry. "We at the time used Shen Shen Yun Suan Yuan Suan Guo. Twelve days later the Corpse King will counterattack Du Cheng. At that time we can settle things with it once and for all. But now only seven days remain."

"But how come you're even more anxious than me?" Lao Tu noticed Fugaku's abnormality. His tone carried a few points of strangeness as he asked.

Fugaku returned to his senses, realizing his reaction had been a bit excessive. He took a deep breath and said solemnly: "I'm only worried the Corpse King will harm innocent people. This kind of scourge must be eliminated as soon as possible."

Tu Shu was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter: "Good! You have backbone! Worthy Of being someone I've taken a liking to!"

He lifted his teacup and took a sip, "But before that, prepare yourself first, after all, the fight seven days from now is no joke."

Saying this, Tu Shu stood up: "Follow me, I'll take you somewhere."

Fugaku frowned and followed. The two passed through one bright Corridor after another, finally stopping before an elevator; Tu Shu took out a black magnetic card and lightly swiped it on the sensor, and the elevator Door slid open soundlessly.

"This is... underground?" Fugaku noticed the elevator buttons extended downward all the way to B15 Floor.

"You'll know soon enough." Tu Shu pressed the B12 button, and the elevator began to descend rapidly.

With a soft sound, the elevator Door slowly opened. Fugaku followed Tu Shu out of the elevator, and the sight before him made him pause slightly.

A huge circular underground Space appeared before his eyes. The area here was as large as several football Fields, and a ring of huge LED lights hung from the ceiling, illuminating the entire Space as bright as day.

In the center of the Field was a flat black Ground, its surface faintly shining with a metallic luster. The surrounding Walls were hung with all kinds of training equipment, and in the distance stood rows of weapon racks, neatly arranged with various cold weapons.

"This place is..." Fugaku showed a hint of confusion.

"Yan Huang Wu Bei Xun Lian Chang." Tu Shu pointed to that black Ground, "That is a specially made alloy Floor; even if a rocket launcher bombed it directly, it wouldn't leave a trace."

"Old Tu, why did you bring me here?" Fugaku looked around, his face full of confusion, at this time the training Field was empty.

Tu Shu slowly walked toward the weapon rack by the Wall: "To be honest, that day watching you fight, I don't really understand those Ninjutsu, so I won't say anything."

He reached out and took a dark red iron rod from the weapon rack, weighing it in his hand: "But I noticed that when you used Body Flicker at the end, you were completely outputting with brute force, without any Technique at all."

"You must know, true masters, even at their weakest, every move should pay attention to Technique." Tu Shu slowly exhaled, holding the rod with both hands, assuming a starting stance.

Although Tu Shu was thin at this moment, the moment he held the long rod, his entire demeanor changed. Those cloudy eyes suddenly burst forth with sharp light.

"Watch closely." Tu Shu shook his wrist, and the long rod instantly turned into a Black Shadow.

The long rod seemed to have life in his hand—thrusting, sweeping, lifting, pointing—each move connected smoothly, the techniques flowing like clouds and water, without the slightest stiffness.

"Great Python Turns Over!" Tu Shu shouted lowly, the long rod drawing a perfect arc in the air.

"White Crane Nods!" The long rod thrust down fiercely, so fast only a Body Flicker could be seen.

"Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain!" Rod shadows flew about, emitting sounds like tiger roars.

Every movement was precise, without a bit of excess strength. Even a simple sweep could unleash a force of a thousand jun in his hand. As the rod shadows flew about, they even brought about sounds of Break Sky.

Within just a few moves, Fugaku was captivated, his Sharingan opened to record the moves in his mind.

Although he mastered the Sharingan, this kind of Technique of using power to the extreme was indeed what he lacked; if he could integrate these techniques into his own fighting style... "How about it?" Tu Shu retracted the long rod, face not red, breath not short, as if the performance just now was extremely easy for him: "Interested in learning?"

"This is..." Fugaku stared fixedly at that long rod.

"This is the ancient martial arts of Yan Huang." Tu Shu sheathed his stance and stood still, gently stroking the long rod in his hand, "The use of power emphasizes borrowing force to strike force, four taels deflecting a thousand jin."

"Ancient martial arts?" Fugaku raised his eyebrows.

"What, don't believe it?" Tu Shu laughed and threw the long rod to Fugaku, taking another one from the weapon rack, "Come, I'll teach you a few moves."

Fugaku took the long rod, his wrist moved slightly, and he immediately felt a heaviness. This long rod was about seven chi long, entirely dark red, its surface covered with dense patterns.

Afterwards, Fugaku reproduced the moves recorded by his Sharingan without missing a bit. Great Python Turns Over, White Crane Nods, Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain—every move flowed like clouds and water, exactly like Tu Shu's performance just now.

But the feeling was completely different; Tu Shu's long rod was flexible like a snake, at his will. While the long rod in his own hand was like a stiff piece of wood.

"Wrong, wrong." Tu Shu shook his head, "Wrist power must be fast, palm must be loose, treat the rod as an extension of your body, watch closely."

"Flood Dragon Leaves the Sea!" Tu Shu shouted lowly, the long rod sweeping horizontally close to the Ground; Fugaku wanted to block, but found the rod shadows scattered, unable to judge the true attack Road.

"Bang!"

A sharp pain came from his waist, and Fugaku realized he had been hit.

"Reaction not bad, but still half a beat slow." Tu Shu tapped the air with the long rod in his hand, "Again!"

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon!"

This time Tu Shu's offensive was even fiercer; amidst the flying rod shadows, it actually covered all of Fugaku's vital points. Fugaku was just about to raise his rod to block when his left shoulder was struck.

After being hit several times in a row, beads of sweat appeared on Fugaku's forehead, "Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain!"

Tu Shu struck again, the long rod carrying a fierce momentum straight for Fugaku's face.

Fugaku's eyes narrowed; subconsciously, his Three Tomoe Sharingan quietly appeared, and the trajectory of the rod shadows was clearly visible.

Fugaku shifted his body slightly. Under the guidance of the Sharingan, he precisely found the weak point of the opponent's long rod, and the long rod in his hand thrust out fiercely.

"Clang"

The sound of metal striking suddenly rang out. Tu Shu only felt his hand shake, and the long rod actually flew out of his hand, drawing an arc in the air and heavily smashing onto the Ground.

Tu Shu did not go to pick up the fallen long rod; instead, his gaze fell on Fugaku's face, precisely on his eyes that were shining with a strange light. Three Magatama slowly rotated, exuding an inexplicable might.

"Your eyes are very powerful, your capture ability is strong." Tu Shu slowly spoke, but his tone carried a hint of regret, "But you rely on it too much."

Fugaku frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"

(Chapter End)