Chapter 1950

Li Wuyou said: "The phantom probably hasn't had time to absorb all of her energy; following her, you should be able to find the phantom. It seems you may still have a chance to defeat the phantom, after all it hasn't yet recovered to its strongest state."

Hu Xiaotian looked at Qiqi, feeling a pang of sorrow, but given the situation there seemed to be no other way to quickly find the phantom; moreover, leaving Qiqi behind would be useless. If we cannot quickly find the phantom, it might be doomsday for everyone.

Li Wuyou said: "If you want to find the Mirage, you must bring her along."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, dressed the already consciousness-blurred Qiqi in clothes, and carried her on his back.

Li Wuyou handed Hu Xiaotian a device similar to a syringe and said: "The serum inside can put her genetic transformation into relative stasis, but after injection she will also fall into a death-like state, possibly bringing many unknown risks; if not necessary, it's best not to use it lightly."

At the moment of departure, Li Wuyou's eyes were already brimming with tears, and she said in a trembling voice: "Take care, I'll wait for you to come back!" Although she knew the likelihood of Hu Xiaotian returning safely was not great, she still hoped; no one knew her inner loneliness, and if Hu Xiaotian could not return, then in this world only she would remain alone.

A thousand thoughts surged into his mind at once; as Hu Xiaotian rode away from Yiyuantang, he suddenly realized he still had too many things left undone, too many words left unsaid, and at the very least he needed to bid farewell to his beloved confidantes—but he had no time left.

Huo Shengnan led ten thousand elite soldiers in neat formation before the mausoleum; wind and rain could not disturb them, all troops fully armed and ready, awaiting only the commander's order to launch an attack.

Hu Xiaotian finally arrived, and Huo Shengnan came to his side at once; seeing Huo Shengnan appear before him, Hu Xiaotian felt warmth mixed with an indescribable sourness—perhaps today would be the moment of eternal parting; he hesitated, but ultimately did not tell her the truth, for having resolved to face death, why let her know, since if she did she would surely stop him at any cost, shaking his resolve.

Huo Shengnan said: "Xiaotian, according to the mausoleum guard's report, Hong Beimo entered the Huangling Digong at dawn and has not yet emerged; Zhuge Mister and Elder Brother Zong are searching for the entrance to the Huangling Digong."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; behind him, Qiqi, who had just fallen into a coma, woke again and cried out shrilly: "Mother! I've come!"

At that moment, a scout responsible for monitoring movements in the distance came running toward them, shouting from afar: "The Digong gate is open! The Digong gate is open!"

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows, never expecting the Digong gate to open on its own; this opening must be because of Qiqi's arrival. Thus, the Mirage must have known they were coming and had opened the gate voluntarily to await them.

"I'll go with you!" Huo Shengnan volunteered.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and whispered: "Wait for me to return!" Nothing could reassure Huo Shengnan more than those words; she had always trusted Hu Xiaotian, and since he said that, he would surely come back.

At this moment, Zhuge Guangi, Song Tang, Xia Zhangming and others also rushed over upon hearing the news; hearing that Hu Xiaotian intended to bring Qiqi alone into the Huangling Digong, they all grew worried and vied to accompany him. Hu Xiaotian understood in his heart that none of them actually grasped the true situation. Dealing with a superpowered intelligent life like the Mirage is not a matter of more numbers giving an advantage. Moreover, it is even more troublesome that his original idea—destroying the starship to stop the Mirage—is unrealistic; if the starship were destroyed, the Mirage might be unable to travel to other star systems, but she would surely become enraged and unleash a slaughter across the world, after which likely no one could stop her.

Along the way Hu Xiaotian fully understood why Li Wuyou had given him the gravitational source: the way to completely eliminate the Mirage threat is to have her repair the starship, then use the gravitational source to pull the starship into the Dark Epoch, making that black hole an inescapable prison for the Mirage; even if she cannot be destroyed, she will be eternally imprisoned in darkness.

However, the most aggravating part is that this gravitational source can only be activated after the vehicle reaches light speed, and what's worse is that it requires manual operation, with no one else seemingly suitable besides himself. Hu Xiaotian never imagined becoming a savior of the world; in his two lifetimes he had thought most about living comfortably, yet reality has pushed him into this position; he now finally grasps the meaning of "times make heroes." For his homeland, for the beloved confidantes here, and for his unborn child, he must make a sacrifice—on this matter he cannot retreat, cannot hesitate, and does not get to choose.

Hu Xiaotian surveyed the crowd; although facing a life-and-death decision, he still kept a calm smile and said calmly: "This is between me and Hong Beimo; more people won't help."

The ever-wise Zhuge Guangi, although he understood Hu Xiaotian's meaning, still could not bear to watch him rush into danger and advised: "My lord, one more person means one more strength."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, just about to give the order, when he heard a voice from the crowd say: "He's right—more people won't help; I'll go with him!"

The troops made way, revealing Ji Feihua clad in red warrior garb, a black cape fluttering like a banner in the wind and rain; beside her stood another person, the high monk Kongjian of Tianlong Temple. Had the situation not become urgent, this monk who had long withdrawn from the world would hardly concern himself with worldly affairs.

Ji Feihua also revealed her true appearance for the first time; her appearance naturally caused a commotion. When everyone learned that the blind old monk was none other than the foremost divine monk Kongjian of Tianlong Temple, they no longer insisted on accompanying Hu Xiaotian, for with the two of them escorting him into the mausoleum, perhaps no one in the world could threaten his safety. Yet these people did not consider what kind of enemy Hu Xiaotian and they would now face.

Upon entering the Huangling Digong, the lamps along the passageway lit up one after another.

Originally moribund, Qiqi had now regained considerable spirit; Hu Xiaotian saw that the Lan-colored network had already spread to the back of her ear, and he could not help but worry whether this was merely a temporary rally. Qiqi struggled down from his back, drew a deep breath, and said: "I feel much better!"

Ji Feihua sent a mental transmission to Hu Xiaotian: "Be on guard; she seems strange!"

Hu Xiaotian said nothing.

Qiqi closed her eyes, as if listening to something; shortly afterward she opened them and said: "My mother is right ahead—I hear her calling me!"

Ji Feihua and Hu Xiaotian glanced at each other; despite their keen hearing they heard nothing, perhaps Qiqi's voice was a special transmission. The "mother" she kept mentioning must be the Mirage; considering that powerful enemy is nearby, they dare not let down their guard in the slightest.

Monk Kongjian said: "This old monk has not heard any sound."

Qiqi took a step forward; Hu Xiaotian hurried after her, worried she might collapse at any moment, but to his surprise Qiqi walked steadily, and her pace grew faster and faster.

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help reminding her: "Qiqi, walk slower!"

Qiqi, however, seemed not to hear his reminder at all and actually began to jog.

Ji Feihua told Hu Xiaotian: "Just follow her; the Mirage is summoning her, nothing more than to drain her energy."

Hu Xiaotian snapped: "How can there be such a heartless mother in the world!"

Ji Feihua replied: "She regards the Mirage as her mother, but likely the Mirage never considered her as its daughter."

Qiqi suddenly stopped ahead, her path blocked by a stone door.

Although Monk Kongjian had no eyes, he perceived all movements as clearly as if he could see, and followed closely behind Hu Xiaotian and Ji Feihua.

Qiqi said: "Mother, I've come; why won't you open the door?"

The stone door slowly rose, revealing a middle-aged man before it—Hong Beimo—who smiled at the crowd and said: "You've finally come!"

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted; although he had anticipated meeting Hong Beimo here, he had not expected Hong Beimo to come out to greet them. He grabbed Qiqi's wrist to stop her from moving forward, then smiled at Hong Beimo and said: "Mr. Hong, it seems you already knew we were coming?"

Hong Beimo replied: "I naturally know, and I also know whom you have come here to see." As he spoke, his eyes flickered, making it hard to focus on Hu Xiaotian's face.

Ji Feihua said: "Since you know, why not let the Mirage come out to meet us?"

Hong Beimo shook his head: "I don't know who the Mirage is, but someone is indeed waiting for you here." He gestured an invitation, turned and led the way forward, acting as their guide.

Hu Xiaotian sent a mental transmission to Ji Feihua: "Hong Beimo seems odd."

Ji Feihua responded: "Since we entered this place, everything has felt strange; entrust Qiqi to the master's care."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, slowly drawing his black-iron sword from behind him. Hong Beimo, without turning, seemed to sense it and said softly: "Your Highness, you wouldn't be planning to stab me in the back, would you?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily: "Mr. Hong, you're overthinking; I, Hu Xiaotian, never strike from behind, and given how closely we cooperate, how could I harbor harmful intent?"

The silent monk Kongjian said: "Benefactor Hong, do you still remember your master?"

Hong Beimo ignored him, saying in a deep voice: "Stay close to me; if you get lost, don't blame me."

Turning into the passageway ahead, a haze filled the view; Hu Xiaotian and his companions worried the air was toxic, each holding their breath. Hu Xiaotian had originally been concerned about Qiqi and gave her a mask, but she showed no abnormality and stayed close by his side.

Hong Beimo said: "Don't be afraid; this mist is merely for concealment and confusion, it's not poisonous." As he walked, he reminded those behind of the direction; after more than two hundred steps, the mist suddenly cleared, revealing before them an underground river glittering with silver light.