After Su Jiu dealt with a High-Rank Battle King, Jialuo on the ground also pierced the heart of an A-Class Raven with his sword and kicked the latter away like a piece of cloth, sending it flying onto a nearby ancient tree.
This change happened almost instantaneously. The cloaked figures only saw a blur before their eyes and realized their boss had become a corpse. Showing palpable fear, they began to flee the temple one by one.
Their highest cultivation was only Half-King Level, and even their two leading High-Rank Battle Kings were dead; if they didn’t run now, when would they?
Looking up at the fleeing cloaked figures, Jialuo’s eyes flickered with fire. He thrust his greatsword into the ground before him, and a horn-like object appeared in his hand. He then blew it, the sound reverberating throughout the small space, creating a very strange feeling.
He then chased after them. Since these Ravens dared to barge into the divine temple, not a single one would escape! The spirits of these fallen soldiers would slowly consume them.
“Spirits…”
In mid-air, Su Jiu noticed something and looked into the distance with a somewhat distant gaze. After a moment of silence, she retracted her gaze and landed back on the ground.
Then, she put the deep blue storage ring in her hand onto her thumb, erased the restrictions with her mental power, and proceeded to survey its contents.
She found that besides a communication pen she had tricked Kyoungde into giving her earlier, there were mostly strange books. The only valuable items were some magic crystals, but their grade and quantity were not high.
“This notebook contains an analysis of the potential of the descendants of God Spa. Let me see if there’s anything I need… Sky Devouring Peng, Mid-Stage War God Level, Earth Element… Nine-Headed Golden Sparrow, Peak War God Level, Metal Element… Blazing Ghost Eagle, Initial Stage Battle God Level, Fire Element. It’s a pity this one is a bit too low… they are all too low, and will greatly suppress the upper limit of my Ghost Car avatar.”
Suddenly taking out a small booklet, Su Jiu flipped through it, a hint of disappointment appearing in her eyes. Soon, she reached the last page, her eyes slowly widening. “Fen Shuangluan, a Peak War God Level creature, very possibly mutated from an Ice Phoenix. It’s a fiery bird that grows in the Land of Winter. Reason for mutation – unknown…”
“Location—”
As she read the location, her eyes gradually grew serious. Then, she said word by word, “It once had a presence in the central region of Bear Country.”
She would have to see if that Half-Demon shop owner helped her get the “divine bird’s” location. If, after comparison, there were no other choices, she would lean towards this Fen Shuangluan, as its level and the place she was going to were very compatible.
If she could use the spring water obtained after winning the world competition, Su Jiu had a fifty percent chance of reaching the Half-King Level. At that time, she would need to prepare awakening materials for her Ghost Car avatar, and she couldn’t be restricted like before.
With a “hiss,” a black shadow with specks of red slowly stood up in the temple’s shadow. Jialuo clasped his hands towards Su Jiu, bowed slightly, and said with great solemnity, “Thank you for your generous assistance. Without you, I fear I would have dissipated today.”
“It’s just a small favor. You gave me an opportunity to improve, so it’s normal for me to help you,” Su Jiu smiled. The iron can in front of her was not as terrifying as she thought. Moreover, if he survived, he might be able to do more for the refugees in this region.
Jialuo nodded and then fumbled another storage bag from his pocket. After hesitating, he slowly said, “Do you have any plans afterwards?”
“Plans… I’ve already improved. I’ll probably return to the western part of Aers,” Su Jiu paused slightly and then said softly.
Upon hearing this, the fire in Jialuo’s eyes seemed to dim. His gauntlet pressed against the storage bag, and a faint crimson glow appeared. After a moment, the fire in his eyes flickered, and he sighed, “I originally wanted to entrust you with something, but I don’t think I have anything to offer in return. So, for public and private reasons, let’s forget it.”
“Tell me what it is. I’m not in a hurry to get back. If I can, I don’t mind helping,” Su Jiu casually said, putting the small notebook into her black storage ring. She then let Bairnis return to human form to collect the bodies, estimating she could gather enough for about half a month’s worth of food.
Su Jiu was terribly short of money. She needed magic crystals to eat, magic crystals to cultivate, and magic crystals to raise pets… Moreover, most of these Ravens were Alchemists, so she should be able to get a good income.
“A human-shaped beast pet…”
Looking at Bairnis, who had returned to human form to loot the bodies, with some surprise, Jialuo quickly collected himself under Su Jiu’s gaze. Grinning bitterly, he took out a parchment envelope from the storage bag and bowed his head, saying,
“I want to reply to my wife who works in northern Aers. The address and name are on the letter. The north is Mokala’s territory, so you basically won’t encounter Yela’s soldiers.”
The corners of the parchment were slightly blackened, as if soaked in blood for a long time. The embossed seal was also a bit dusty, but Su Jiu could feel that the envelope was very carefully protected, with no creases.
“A reply? With your strength, it should only take a few hours to return to northern Aers, right?” Su Jiu didn’t immediately take the blood-stained envelope. She wanted to hear Jialuo’s reason.
“Alas, I can’t leave this place… Just as those Ravens said, apart from my feathers, I also have to rely on this temple to continue acting.”
Jialuo lowered his head and continued speaking, the fire in his eyes growing weaker, a faint sadness on his face. “Moreover, in this state of a bound spirit, I can at most survive for a month. Since we are already strangers, why meet more?”
“A ‘letter to my wife’?”
Su Jiu fell silent, slightly lowering her head to look at the letter. This might be a letter from Jialuo before his death that had not yet been sent, filled with the husband’s boundless longing for his wife.
Or perhaps it was a report of safety.
The dead asking the living to deliver it probably meant more helplessness.
“And also…”
After saying that, he clenched his fist again, his gaze swept over the corpses, and after a moment of silence, he slowly continued, “I want to kill a few more high-ranking invaders. Perhaps killing cannot stop the war, but it can allow the people of this land to live a few more days.”
This was also why he used great strength but still did not kill the ordinary soldiers. He understood that war was not really related to soldiers…
If he killed high-ranking officials in a deterrent manner, killing them until they were terrified, how would Yela dare to attack the civilians of Aers casually?
“Alas… Alright.”
Gently taking the letter, Su Jiu pursed her lips and sighed. She knew that since the other party had said so much, if she didn’t go, she would seem a bit stingy.
“Really?”
Upon hearing this, Jialuo’s dim flame suddenly burst into brilliant light, like a surge of vitality, and he exclaimed in surprise.
Seeing the empty helmet reignited, Su Jiu had no choice but to nod helplessly. After a period of silence, she added, “It should arrive tomorrow. You’d best not have any accidents in the meantime.”
In her heart, she felt a touch of melancholy – how many of the soldiers who died on the battlefield truly wanted to go to war?
If one does not guard the nation, why abandon one’s family?
Suddenly sensing something, Jialuo’s expression sank. He then turned his head sharply to look into the distance and said softly, “Yela soldiers are also investigating. I can’t let them discover the temple so early.”
After a few more words, seeing Jialuo about to leave, Su Jiu sighed and placed her hand on his shoulder armor, handing him the pen Kyoungde had given her earlier. She said softly, “Take this.”
“Okay!”
Jialuo glanced at the pen, his brow furrowed, clearly unaware of what this special pen was used for. Suddenly, a long cannon blast “Boom!” sounded abruptly. Without further hesitation, he transformed into a shadow and disappeared into the land.
“Miss, a total of two High-Grade Magic Crystals, eleven Mid-Grade Magic Crystals, and twenty to thirty Initial-Grade Magic Crystals were collected…”
Bairnis’s hands were covered in demon blood, and she had carefully packed the items into three storage bags. After a brief pause, she said somewhat helplessly, “They basically seem to have no storage bags, and as for cash, there was even less, probably only over a hundred thousand dollars.”
“It’s normal for people to go on missions without storage bags. This harvest is enough to sustain us for more than half a month. That High-Grade Magic Crystal was probably left by the A-Class Raven’s pet.”
Nodding, Su Jiu used Frost Control to wash Bairnis’s hands. Then, her gaze went straight to the sky. Her fingers formed a seal, and a large golden energy sword landed in front of them.
“Let’s go! Let’s go to northern Aers.”
…
A Jeep slowly drove out of the Yela military camp. The guards seemed unusually scarce. The scattered soldiers yawned and let it pass casually, showing no interest.
“Ahem… During the performances these past two days, there weren’t many high-ranking officers, and now even the soldiers are so few,” said the old musician in the car, taking a puff of his cigarette and coughing twice, smiling.
Another musician chimed in casually, “Perhaps they don’t like our anti-war performances? After all, many soldiers actually dislike us, thinking we’re taking sides – anyway, our itinerary is completely finished today.”
Katherine, however, looked out the window at the empty military camp, her expression unreadable. After a long silence, she slowly said, “We’re going to the International City of Aers next… According to my military friend, that place will soon be a priority for Yela’s attention. We should be able to do something for the refugees there.”
Would she, the doctor who claimed to be from the International Red Cross, appear at the International Hospital?
Jialuo had been quiet for the past two days, likely because of her.
