230: Chapter 228 Kunpeng and the Fallen Spirit of Strass

The Kunpeng is a mythical creature of ancient Chinese imagination. Modern people have various guesses about what specific hopes it represented or what aspirations of the ancestors it expressed, but there is no definitive evidence.

This is not only because a physical specimen has never been seen, but also because of the modifications made to the Kunpeng's image by generations of ancients over the long passage of time.

In short, no one dares to make a final conclusion about what the Kunpeng looks like.

But when Zhao Qi leaned his upper body out of the window, twisting his neck to the limit toward the sky, and saw the belly of the "giant fish" against the azure backdrop, he was instantly certain in his heart: it was the Kunpeng.

The Director and the others felt the same way.

After all, besides the Kunpeng, they couldn't imagine any fish that could grow so massive, break free from the embrace of water, and float high in the sky.

Their pupils were filled with shock; its body was so magnificent, so dazzling.

Although the distance was too great to make an accurate judgment, the vastness of the fish's belly could still be clearly perceived.

The fins fanned slowly, yet they didn't seem weak; instead, they highlighted its power even more.

Shrouded in its shadow, they suddenly felt a fresh wave of trembling.

Even knowing they wouldn't be harmed, a sense of insignificance still irrepressibly filled their hearts, accompanied by fear.

The fear wasn't cowardice, but awe for a great power that could easily snatch away their lives.

"Immortal Xu, is it... is this senior the Kunpeng?" After much deliberation, Ye Ming chose a respectful title he felt was appropriate.

"Indeed."

Xu smiled and said, "Everyone, it's time to set off."

Hearing this, the Director pulled his head back in and picked up the landline to instruct his secretary to bring the remaining four people who had passed the test.

They moved quickly, and in about three minutes, they walked into the room in a line.

Seeing an "Immortal" for the first time, the four were somewhat flustered, standing obediently with their hands at their sides, only daring to peek at Xu with their peripheral vision.

Waving for Luo Xiling to stand in front of them, Xu said, "Though you have passed the Heart Inquiry, you cannot yet call yourselves members of the Mountain Gate.

That must wait until you have formally joined."

"Yes!"

Turning to look at the Director, he asked, "Will you accompany us?"

After freezing for a few seconds, the Director asked in pleasant surprise, "We can go too?"

"Meeting you all is fate; on this trip, you shall be Xu's guests."

"Immortal Xu," Zhao Qi became excited, "how many spots are there?"

Looking around the room, he smiled and said, "Just everyone present."

After saying this, Xu put his hands behind his back. Without any visible hand signs or incantations, everyone abruptly floated off the ground, then flew out the window, ascending toward the high sky.

This was too thrilling!

Flying with her physical body for the first time, Yue Ruo nervously grabbed Zhao Qi's arm, her face full of novelty as she looked down at the rapidly shrinking clusters of buildings.

The buildings turned the size of ants in an instant.

Their attention was drawn to the Kunpeng above their heads.

Although they had tried their best to imagine it as massive, now that they were actually close, they found its size still exceeded their understanding.

Their field of vision was entirely occupied by the sea-blue of the fish's belly. The lack of depth and the overly monotonous color made them subconsciously feel uneasy, as if it weren't the real world, causing them to involuntarily lean their upper bodies back.

However, even after leaning back for a long time, their view didn't change in the slightest.

It wasn't until they rose above the Kunpeng and landed on the vast back of the fish that the oppression in their hearts eased slightly.

"Eh?" Luo Xiling noticed a suction force beneath her feet. "Master, can the Kunpeng suck people in?"

Xu turned his head: "Do not lose your manners.

You are already half a member of the Mountain Gate; you must respect your Martial Uncle."

"Ah? Oh." Realizing she had made a mistake, she immediately crouched down. "Martial Uncle, it's my first time here, please don't mind me. I'll bring you some dried fish snacks tomorrow."

Looking at her expressionlessly until she stood up, Xu said, "Everyone may move about freely; do not worry about falling.

Senior Brother, return to the Mountain Gate."

The Kunpeng replied with an ethereal cry. Everyone immediately noticed that the clouds on their left and right began to move, receding backward.

Only now did Zhang Mu find the time to look over the four people who were still standing in a neat line, showing absolutely no intent to explore.

Three men and one woman, not much difference in age, all between twenty-five and thirty.

Zhang Mu mused that it might be because young people's energy is more active and vigorous.

For the time being, he didn't plan to get to know them in detail; he intended to train them slowly after entering the 'world'.

As for the reason... Zhang Mu looked into the distance.

The Kunpeng was extremely fast, and flying in a straight line through the air, it had already left Su City in just one minute, crossing the suburban wilderness and speeding toward the south of China.

NH was the destination of this journey.

Choosing that place had a lot to do with his plan.

Zhang Mu wanted to display his power but didn't want to cause innocent casualties or large-scale damage to buildings. Only the uninhabited seaside was most suitable.

He was going to drop a Stras Falling Spirit in the NH area.

Of course, it wouldn't be at full power. Otherwise, not to mention whether the Falling Spirit would trigger earthquakes or tsunamis, the violent mana accumulated in his body from consuming a large number of potions would directly blow him apart.

A juvenile version would be enough.

"Immortal Xu." A voice interrupted his musing. Turning his head, he saw Ye Ming standing beside him.

"What is it?"

"I wanted to ask, can you reveal a little about my immortal fate?"

"The time has not yet come."

"I see..." His tone grew low.

Hm?

Zhang Mu felt it was a bit strange. It had been over half a year, and he had always been calm. Why was his reaction so intense today?

"Mr. Ye, are you facing some difficulty?"

"It's not that I have a difficulty." He put his hands in his jacket pockets, his face hesitant for a moment before he said, "I have a very good friend.

Being able to work at the Special Investigation Bureau was also thanks to him."

Is he talking about me?

He felt odd inside, but his expression didn't change: "Xu knows of him."

"Yes, after all, the immortal fate was his to begin with."

Taking a deep breath, Ye Ming continued his story: "During your tribulation, my... assistant, she happened to meet a girl in the retreating crowd.

Even more coincidentally, that girl is well-acquainted with my friend. From her, I heard some bad news.

Zhang Mu, my friend, has a terminal illness.

Once I found out, I immediately went to his rental apartment to find him, but the room was covered in a thick layer of dust, and the bathroom and bedroom hadn't been used in a long time.

Through the Special Investigation Bureau, I traced his last movements to buying a plane ticket to America.

He might be, now..."

"You wish for Xu to intervene and save him?"

"Is it possible?" Ye Ming's eyes lit up. Lin Miao, who was eavesdropping nearby, couldn't help but lean in as well.

"He has chosen a suitable funeral for himself."

"..."

Ye Ming looked up, his gaze at Immortal Xu somewhat dazed: "Funeral... what does that mean?"

"Exactly what you understand it to be."

The air around the two fell into a dead silence. Lin Miao stopped in her tracks, pulling back Zhao Qi and Yue Ruo, who sensed something was wrong and wanted to see what was happening.

"Immortal Xu," Ye Ming's voice was lost, "why him? Why didn't he tell me?"

Xu didn't answer, his pupils reflecting a sense of detachment: "Those of the Mountain Gate must experience the passing of friends and family, which eventually dissipates like passing clouds.

You have the chance to regret."

After a few seconds of blankness, Ye Ming seemed to understand and turned back to look at Lin Miao.

"Can she enter the Mountain Gate?"

"I know not. Perhaps, perhaps not."

"I see..." The fist in his pocket tightened. He remained silent for a while before lifting his face, "Then I won't..."

"Immortal Xu, he does not regret."

Lin Miao was like the heroine of an idol drama, running forward, her long hair flying, as she shouted.

Running close, she took a breath, smoothed the messy strands of hair from her forehead behind her ears, and then said, "Immortal Xu, Ye Ming does not regret."

"Xiao Miao, this isn't a jok—"

"Trust me." Lin Miao looked up at him. "I can do it."

Whether those two regretted it or not was unknown, but Zhang Mu's heart was green with regret right now.

Looking at the two gazing affectionately at each other, one tall and one short, he wished he could slap himself. Why did he have to say that extra sentence?

How unlucky.

Zhang Mu turned around, his face dark at an angle where the others couldn't see.

"What's wrong?" Luo Xiling, drawn by Lin Miao's shout, first glanced at her Master's back and then asked in a low voice.

"Don't ask things children shouldn't ask." Zhao Qi and Yue Ruo each grabbed one of her arms and dragged her away.

Luo Xiling didn't dare to resist too hard for fear of hurting them, but she kept shouting, "Brother Ye, Xiao Miao, what's going on?!"

"Sounds like a pig being slaughtered." After wandering around the Kunpeng and losing his sense of novelty, the Director walked over.

The three ignored him and continued away in their formation.

Rubbing the back of his head, the Director felt it was a bit inexplicable, but he quickly brushed it aside and walked to Zhang Mu's side: "Immortal Xu, how much longer until we arrive?

I'm not in a hurry, it's just that the departure was so sudden, we didn't bring any food."

Zhang Mu really hadn't considered this.

After becoming a High-level Magician, he basically no longer relied on ordinary food to supplement his body's functioning.

By a rough estimate, he hadn't eaten rice for about two months, so he had momentarily forgotten that the Director and the others were all ordinary people who needed to eat.

Fortunately, the Kunpeng was fast, and it wouldn't take too long to reach NH.

"Within two hours. Once we enter the Mountain Gate, there will be no lack of food."

Four hours? They could manage that.

The Director showed a relaxed smile: "Alright, sorry for the trouble, Immortal Xu."

After that, no one else disturbed Zhang Mu as he stood at the "fish head."

The Director found an open space further away and lay flat; before long, snoring could be heard.

Lin Miao and Ye Ming sat on the edge of the fish's back with their shoulders touching, seemingly whispering to each other.

The four destined ones, perhaps feeling the "Immortal's pressure" was too strong, hovered near the fish's tail, looking down at the rolling mountains.

As for Zhao Qi and Yue Ruo, they were still busy dealing with the questioning Luo Xiling.

Due to her strengthened physique, her energy was exceptionally vigorous, and she didn't get tired no matter how much she tossed about.

Three and a half hours passed. Beneath them were undulating mountains, and the blue sea surface appeared from behind the distant horizon.

Zhang Mu used the Shadow Technique to wrap around the crystal bottles and poured three bottles into his mouth.

Feeling that his mana was barely enough to release the Stras Falling Spirit, he said softly, "We've arrived."

The faint voice clearly reached the ears of everyone scattered across the vast back of the fish.

They immediately gathered and stood behind Zhang Mu.

Looking out at the sea, the Director asked in confusion, "Immortal Xu, is the Mountain Gate under the sea?"

Everyone seemed very curious, their gazes converging.

"Wait..."

Mid-sentence, Xu suddenly looked up.

Everyone subconsciously followed his gaze toward the sky; the azure firmament showed nothing unusual.

The Director was about to ask, but he saw Xu wave his hand sharply. They suddenly felt light and then flew off the fish's back, plunging toward the ground, landing steadily at the foot of one of the rolling mountains.

What happened?

They were confused and wanted to ask Immortal Xu, but he was exuding a powerful, oppressive aura, and for a moment, no one dared to speak.

However, things soon became clear.

From the thick cloud layers high in the sky, a giant circular stone suddenly burst out, like a meteorite, falling diagonally toward where they were standing.

There was still some distance, but the terrifying power felt as if it were right before their eyes. Zhao Qi pinched his trembling thigh: "Should we... should we run?"

Luo Xiling, however, was not panicked at all. With her arms crossed over her chest and her left hand holding the moon bright sword, she said, "Master is here, what is there to fear?"

As soon as these words came out, the gradually spreading atmosphere of panic instantly dissipated.

That's right, Immortal Xu didn't say to run, so why be afraid?

Seeing everyone's expressions soften, Luo Xiling gave a proud hum: "I am Master's..."

*Ceng—*

The moon bright sword automatically unsheathed and fell into Xu's raised right palm. With a turn of his wrist, the moon bright sword slashed upward from below, and a crescent-shaped pale green sword qi flew out, shooting toward the round stone in the air.

Both sides were extremely fast and collided in mid-air in an instant.

Suffering a heavy blow, the stone paused for a moment before falling straight down, disappearing behind a mountain peak.

"Eh?" Ye Ming frowned. "Where's the sound?"

"What sound?" Luo Xiling blinked.

"You..." Zhao Qi's mouth twitched, "Such a big rock hit the ground and there's no noise?"

She was about to snap back crossly when she suddenly felt the light dim before her eyes, and she involuntarily tilted her head back: "What now... what is that?!"

On the other side of the mountain where the rock had just vanished.

It was a giant composed entirely of rock. It stood behind a mountain range, its massive body obscured by mountain mist, revealing only its vast shoulders and head.

On its face, which was wider than a mountain peak, there were no nose or mouth, only a pair of hollow eye sockets.

It didn't keep the audience waiting long; ghostly blue flames lit up in its eye sockets, flickering gently.

The big fellow was in quite a hurry and began to move.

With just a slight movement of its feet, it kicked up a deafening sound of tearing air. Its massive body dispersed the clouds and mist lingering between the peaks, the ground shook, and the mountains crumbled.

With the light behind it, it cast a sun-blocking shadow across the mountains.

Shrouded by such a shadow, everyone seemed to lose their original colors, presenting the most humble and terrified pure black background.

"Woo—"

A melodious cry that seemed to come from ancient times fell from the sky. They were startled awake, finally escaping from the suffocation and gasping for breath.

"This is... this is..." Zhao Qi clutched his violently heaving chest, fear almost overflowing from his eyes.

"Woo—"

The Kunpeng's cry came again. It waved its fins, and its body, which was no smaller than the stone giant's, turned around and dove diagonally from the air toward the ground.

The stone giant seemed to sense it, its flickering ghostly blue eyes looking up as it swung its right fist, punching diagonally upward.

However, the Kunpeng had anticipated this. With a flick of its tail, the dive turned into an upward flight, and it simultaneously slapped the stone giant's chest.

*Bang—*

Broken stones splattered, and it was as if a rain of stones had begun in the mountain forest.

The area where Luo Xiling and the others were was also included.

Looking at the "fragments" that were about a meter wide, they subconsciously turned to flee.

"Do not move."

Xu's back was turned as he raised his sword and swung it.

The blade seemed to disappear; they could only see the cold light reflected from the sword body flashing in the void, carving out crescent sword qi slightly smaller than before, knocking away the raindrop-like stones above their heads.

Safety was no longer a concern. The Director finally came to his senses: "Immortal Xu, what kind of monster is it?"

A calamity."

Gazing at the stone giant being toyed with by the Kunpeng's flexible form, Xu explained: "The world changes; we must seal the Mountain Gate, and so must they."

"Then now, can we defeat it?"

"Heh." Xu held the moon bright sword and rose into the air. "If I could kill them then, I can kill them the same way today!"