231: Chapter 229 The Disaster Heads South, Entering the Mountain Gate

Zhang Mu believed that the performance between the Stras Falling Spirit and the Kunpeng was perfectly designed in every aspect.

He had specifically chosen a mountainous area not far from NH to avoid causing casualties among innocent civilians.

Because it was close enough to the sea, the Falling Spirit's departure wouldn't reveal any flaws—it could simply jump straight into the ocean.

Although the commotion of leaping through the clouds along the way would be noticed by people, the Kunpeng was extremely fast. They would surely be deterred and wouldn't chase after it to be accidentally injured.

However, Zhang Mu had ultimately underestimated how persistent Chinese people's habit of watching the spectacle was.

As the Shadow Technique was dispelled, the Kunpeng's body emerged over Su City, and all the residents in the city noticed it immediately.

Its body, resembling a floating mothership, was so massive that it was impossible to ignore as long as one's vision wasn't impaired.

Let alone the Su City citizens whose heads were suddenly cast in shadow.

At that moment, the crowded and noisy streets seemed to have a pause button pressed. Pedestrians and cars all froze in place, and drivers stuck their heads out of windows.

Those at work or resting at home leaned against their windows.

They all shared the same action: tilting their heads back and looking at the sky.

To be precise, they were looking up at that enormous body that seemed to have come from ancient times.

It appeared to be a fish.

It had a fish head, fins, and a tail.

But how could a fish fly into the sky?

The city was abnormally quiet at this moment, seemingly in doubt and deep thought just like its citizens.

No one was there to help answer this question.

They remained in this silent contemplation until Zhang Mu and the others flew onto the Kunpeng's back. It swung its fins and headed south.

The thick layers of clouds shattered and scattered.

The giant fish was climbing in altitude, though it was still not too far from the ground.

For the people directly below shrouded in shadow, the vast majority of their field of vision was filled by the pale blue belly of the fish, with only a hint of the sky's azure at the edges.

It felt as if the sky had been hollowed out by an invisible giant hand, creating a hole large enough to swallow the city.

Has the sky broken?

Will Nüwa come to mend it?

Their thoughts fell into chaos, drifting uncontrollably.

The cry of the giant fish soon jolted them awake.

A low, distant tone fell from the sky. Everyone's hearts suddenly felt as if they were being pressed by a giant boulder, their shoulders felt as if they were carrying a mountain, and their knees instinctively wanted to bend and kneel.

Fortunately, the giant fish flew fast. Before they could kneel, the 'hole' had already passed over Su City. After a while, they could only see the rapidly shrinking, swaying fish tail.

After an unknown amount of time, someone on the street finally screamed: "Kunpeng! Such a big fish, it's definitely a Kunpeng!"

In the end, the professionals were the fastest.

While ordinary citizens were still slapping their heads trying to wake up their consciousness and figure out what a Kunpeng was, live streamers had already started driving their cars, chasing in the direction the Kunpeng had flown.

Even though they knew shortly after starting that they couldn't possibly catch up, their enthusiasm didn't wane in the slightest. They drove while having their assistants upload the captured videos to the internet.

In fact, they hadn't captured any spectacular shots.

They had all been stunned just now, and their brains hadn't even thought of filming.

Only some streamers who were already holding their phones for live broadcasts happened to move their arms when they looked up, and the cameras coincidentally pointed at the sky, recording some footage.

Public interest in supernatural matters was sky-high domestically. As soon as their videos were posted, netizens immediately swarmed in.

"The title says Kunpeng. Is this a promotional video for a classic of mountains and seas game?"

"The games they make are trash, but the promos are alright. This video is shaking all over; did the streamer film it while riding a horse?"

"No, this was clipped from a live stream."

"What do you mean?"

"Shit! I'm from the neighboring An City, and the Kunpeng just flew over my head!"

Without waiting for others to question him, he quickly uploaded a video over a minute long.

It showed a giant fish swimming in a sea of clouds.

The perspective was looking up. When the giant fish reached the sky above, it suddenly turned black. It returned to brightness after a few seconds, then the image blurred for a bit, seemingly because the person filming was moving their phone.

Once it became clear, the vast body had already charged into the clouds, and only the swaying fish tail could be seen outside the clouds.

Everyone who had come to their senses immediately shared it to various major websites and platforms. In just one short hour, basically everyone who could use the internet knew about it.

Many netizens who were currently working left comments saying that if their pockets weren't empty and they didn't have mouths to feed at home, they would immediately hop on a plane to go see it.

They were just talking, but some people actually took action.

Famous domestic entrepreneurs or usually low-profile hidden 'tycoons' all applied for flight routes and took their private jets to rush toward the Kunpeng's path.

Unfortunately, the Kunpeng was too fast. By the time they arrived, the giant fish had already passed and gone far away.

They clearly weren't giving up.

Who didn't know that Immortals could live forever?

They had all seen the changes in that female streamer after she took the immortal medicine.

What did that mean?

It meant that in the eyes of an Immortal, time was just a toy that could be played with at will.

Longevity, or even immortality!

Who wouldn't want that?

Thus, more than ten private passenger planes continued to fly toward NH.

As they got closer and closer to the coastline, there was still no sign of the giant fish, and they were all despairing.

The Special Investigation Bureau had received a strict order from the Central Government: anyone who reached out would have their hand cut off. They could only watch with envy as the hope of increasing their lifespan eluded them.

Now that there was finally a chance to contact an Immortal, they were one step too late, missing it by a hair.

Wrapped in frustration, they instructed their secretaries that if they reached the seaside and still hadn't caught up, they would turn around and return.

Further ahead was a military-controlled area, and flight route applications wouldn't be approved.

However, not long after the planes moved forward, this group of big figures, who were sulking on their sofas, were thrown to the floor by a sudden jolt of the fuselage.

They climbed up in a daze and were about to get angry when they were pulled to the cockpit by their panicked secretaries.

Through the front windshield, they saw the world-shaking battle between the giant and the giant fish.

It was a rock giant taller than a mountain peak.

The continuous and towering mountains seemed like mere dirt mounds at its feet, something it could step on with a slight lift of its foot.

With the sky as its sea, the swimming giant fish was not inferior in size at all.

The rock giant swung its fists, attempting to smash the giant fish, but the opponent was too agile. Between the swaying of its tail and the flapping of its fins, it turned swiftly in mid-air, easily dodging the incoming fists.

"Not good!"

As they gradually approached the battlefield, the expression of the pilot staring blankly at the fight changed drastically: "Emergency climb, we're going to crash!"

...

Where did this plane come from?

Holding the moon bright sword in one hand, Zhang Mu, who had flown into the air, vaguely sensed movement behind him. Looking back, he saw a small plane heading straight for the Fallen Spirit and the Kunpeng.

What are you doing?

A mechanical version of a sliding tackle?

Although Zhang Mu usually wasn't inclined to care about suicidal behavior, the Director and the others were below, so he had to put on a show.

After a bit of thought, he controlled the Kunpeng to climb higher, pulling the plane that was about to hit the back of the Fallen Spirit's head upward, making it stick tightly to the belly.

The process was a bit intense. The plane rose suddenly, and even with magic as a buffer, the people inside would still suffer some injuries.

Well, Zhang Mu did it on purpose because you people like to cause me trouble.

With a snort in his heart, he looked toward the Fallen Spirit, raised his sword, and slashed downward.

Immediately, a giant half-moon sword energy half as tall as the Fallen Spirit slashed down vertically.

Take one hit and then you can escape into the sea.

Zhang Mu secretly sent a message to the Fallen Spirit.

Receiving the order, the deep blue in its eye sockets flickered a few times. It crossed its hands in front of its chest to block the incoming sword energy.

"Boom—"

Dust and mist rose and spread, wrapping its entire body.

The Director and the others at the foot of the mountain were invigorated: "Is it done?"

Luo Xiling had a serious face: "Hard to say. Since ancient times, smoke means no damage."

"What time is it, and you're still talking nonsense?"

"I'm not—"

The ground trembled violently, and the smoke and dust cleared to the sides. The Fallen Spirit, which had lost both arms at the roots, started moving and charged frantically toward the sea.

At this moment, eight fighter jets suddenly dived out from the thick clouds.

Presumably, the higher-ups had finished communicating. The fighter jets didn't hesitate in the slightest. The belly bay doors opened to both sides, and missiles poured out, heading straight for the Fallen Spirit's back.

Zhang Mu's eyes flickered. He ordered the Fallen Spirit, which had already reached the seaside and was about to leap into the water, to slow down its movements.

With such a massive body, it was impossible for the missiles with automatic tracking systems to miss. They all accurately hit the broad rock back.

Fireballs rose, and gunpowder smoke filled the air.

The Fallen Spirit didn't seem to have suffered too serious an injury. Its mountain-like legs bent slightly and sprang up, tracing an arc in the air before smashing into the sea, kicking up a monstrous wave.

Zhang Mu had expected this. He flew forward and slashed the moon bright sword horizontally. The half-moon sword energy cut through the wild waves that were crashing toward the coast.

Watching the screen-like tide stop abruptly and turn into heavy rain falling back to the sea, Luo Xiling gripped the Director's sleeve: "When will I be able to learn this?"

Hearing this, the four destined ones behind also looked up.

We are all going to enter the Mountain Gate, which means we also have a chance to learn?

"One must not aim too high."

"Master, you drove the monster away?!"

Immortal Xu: "?"

He swore it was lucky that the Transformation Technique was just a layer of illusion over his body, otherwise he would eventually lose his composure and break character.

Do you take me for Ultraman?

Seeing Immortal Xu's expressionless face, the Director knew he had been left speechless. He quickly interrupted: "Immortal Xu, has the calamity been eliminated?"

"Not yet. If it were that easy, why would we have left them to survive until now?"

Hearing this, the Director stood on his tiptoes to look at the battlefield from just now.

He didn't know how many mountains had been shattered, but the rubble had almost piled into a new mountain.

In the mountain land between the peaks, there was a straight chasm, plowed out by the tip of the sword energy.

The inside was deep and dark, and it was impossible to see exactly how deep it was.

Swallowing hard, the Director asked: "Will it come again?"

"Not for the time being." Immortal Xu shook his head. "It was heavily injured by me and my Senior Brother today. It won't appear before its injuries are healed.

Moreover, when it reappears in the world, it will likely be somewhere else."

"Somewhere else? Where?"

"Heh, it cannot defeat the Mountain Gate. The only ones that have emerged are us and that school. Where else would it go?"

The Director, who had been following the Magic Academy across the ocean for a long time, said in surprise: "Ying Country?"

"Indeed."

His brow furrowed, and he pinched his chin, lost in thought for a moment: "The school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—can they handle it?"

"It is of no great concern."

Hearing Immortal Xu say this, the Director felt relieved.

Although Ying Country's Hogwarts Academy wasn't one of their own, everyone was on the same side when facing a calamity.

If they were wiped out, there would be one less force to counter the threat, which naturally wouldn't be a good thing.

Thinking of this, he wondered if he should notify Ying Country so they could prepare early.

"Immortal Xu, should we give them a heads-up?"

"Why?"

Immortal Xu's expression was somewhat puzzled, and so was the Director's.

"Uh..." Zhao Qi leaned his head in and whispered, "Immortal Xu, you said that the calamity is the enemy of all mankind. Then Ying Country is equivalent to our ally.

When an ally is in danger, it's okay to give them a warning, right?"

"You two, when did I ever say that they and the Mountain Gate are allies?"

Now, not only were Zhao Qi and the Director stunned, but the others who had been listening intently were also a bit dumbfounded.

Did Immortal Xu mean that even with a powerful external enemy, the supernatural world was still fighting internally?

As if seeing what they were thinking, Immortal Xu smiled and said: "Ten thousand years ago, the Mountain Gate fought a death match with the calamity and suffered great losses. Do you know the primary reason?"

Without waiting for them to speak, he continued: "It was all because of some cowardly and burdensome individuals.

We not only had to face the enemy but also had to lend a hand to save them. For what reason?"

Turning around and facing away from them, Immortal Xu murmured: "This calamity is not considered powerful. If they can overcome it, I shall personally make a trip to see if your worth is sufficient."

They understood these words.

Only if Hogwarts Academy could withstand the attack of the Mountain Rock Giant would they be qualified to have Immortal Xu personally gauge their strength.

"Immortal Xu," Ye Ming approached, "you knew each other before. Is it necessary to test them again?"

"Time spares no one. When the school was first founded, its Headmaster was quite a figure, but he has passed away. They cannot be mentioned in the same breath now."

The group looked at each other, and the Director asked: "If you go there and they don't satisfy you?"

"Then let them fend for themselves."

"Boom—"

The sound of breaking air came. Everyone looked up to see another small plane flying in from the horizon.

Immortal Xu's silver-white eyebrows rose: "How nonsensical!"

"Senior Brother."

"Woo—"

An ethereal cry came from the clouds. The next second, the giant fish burst through the thick clouds, its body like a floating island, heading straight for the plane.

At the moment of imminent collision, the Kunpeng's tail swung, and its head suddenly pulled up, passing over the top of the plane by a hair's breadth.

As the two overlapped and passed each other, everyone finally had a clear concept of the Kunpeng's size.

That plane, which would usually make one marvel at it being a steel monster, was now like a cat crouching at a person's feet under the giant fish.

It was simply small and cute.

"Director, the Kunpeng still has a plane stuck to its belly."

"Hmph."

Although he couldn't see the people inside, the Director could guess who they were.

Since the supernatural was semi-publicly announced, the Special Investigation Bureau's temporary headquarters in Su City hadn't had a single day of peace.

This group of 'big figures' who used to look at him through their nostrils suddenly each brought precious gifts that he couldn't afford with a lifetime's salary, shamelessly walking into his office.

Heh, they didn't even mind his office being shabby anymore.

"Don't worry, Immortal Xu knows what he's doing.

And they're asking for it themselves. Every one of them thinks they're so great just because they're rich. What place is this?

It was already polite of me not to have the J-20s give them a missile."

"Pfft, the Director is just bragging again." Luo Xiling's face was full of disdain. "You can actually command the military?"

"Hey now."

The Director was displeased. He rolled up his sleeves and spoke with spit flying: "I am the Director of the Special Investigation Bureau. Do you know what the Special Investigation Bureau is?

Directly under the Central Government, with military districts providing protection. Except for a handful of people you can count on one hand, no one has the right to give me orders!

See those eight flying away? They were all summoned by your uncle here with one phone call!"

"Eww—"

His proud speech didn't shock Luo Xiling; instead, she was even more disgusted because of the spit on her face.

"Everyone, it's time to set off."

Over there, Zhang Mu, who had controlled the Kunpeng to place the plane on the beach, turned back and called to everyone.