Five thousand, this was the total number of people Thunderstruck Enterprise hired to conquer this world.
Of all of them, none returned, becoming drifting ashes in the fires of that world. But there was a silver lining to this slaughter, Vermilion Bird’s fire was slowly eroded to half power.
This was precisely the reason Thunderstruck Enterprise decided on this open testing, to cut down at Vermilion Bird’s power even more.
As the testers collapsed, Vermilion Bird was getting increasingly weaker. Lei Tian was ecstatic.
The entirety of Vermilion Bird was a treasure. With it, Lei Tian was convinced he could go beyond any ancient cultivators had ever achieved, a pioneer on the path of cultivation.
Whoosh~
As the testers died in scores, a time-space rupture flashed before Du Fei and Li Mo appeared.
Pff…
The panda became big again, only to turn small the next instant and hid in Li Mo’s pocket.
It was just too much like an oven to bear.
“Bro Mo, only Vermilion Bird is here. That Lei Tian… ” Du Fei was about to recount.
“Vermilion Bird? Impossible.” Li Mo refuted.
Vermilion Bird was one of the ten ancient sacred beasts, the phoenix’s ancestor. It wielded a power that could match the Pixiu. If that firebird was indeed Vermilion Bird, they wouldn’t even be able to stand around and ponder. They would’ve been ashes the moment they stepped foot here.
Li Mo once crossed a galaxy that was filled with millions of black planets. All life had been annihilated, the work of the sacred beast Vermilion Bird.
“That is a Mystical Firebird. It is just like a panda, a descendant of a sacred beast. However, it’s bloodline is far more diluted.
“Furthermore, this Mystical Firebird isn’t real, only a projection.”
“Projection? What is that, bro Mo?”
“Even after death, a great being’s power wouldn’t scatter so easily. That isn’t a soul, only power given form. As such, it is known as a projection.
“This Mystical Firebird had to have an outstanding power when alive to give birth to such a projection.”
“Projection…” Du Fei swallowed.
“There’s a huge difference between a projection and a living being. A being can use its body to recover very fast, while a projection lacks such a physical means to overcome the expense of spiritual qi. If it exhausts enough spiritual qi, it would simply disappear.”
“Lei Tian is thinking of using numbers to weaken it.
“Lei Tian is vile.”
“There’s no such thing. There’s a race in the universe called the Rite race. Their cultivation is as slow as the snow people, but their trait allows them to offer sacrifices and increase their power. The more they kill, the stronger they get. Let’s say the sacrifice all life of Earth, well that Rite race’s member will become a seventh level power.
“When facing someone from the Rite race who only knows how to kill, you have no right to even ask why he wants to kill you.”
A cold shiver ran through Du Fei’s spine, “How terrifying…”
“The Rite race may be awful, but they are far from the universe’s strong races.”
“Who are they?”
“Ohhh, praise Heaven, hail Earth, bless fate for letting us meet today. I’m saved!”
Before Li Mo could explain, Ao Jiuxiao ran shouting.
Just like Du Fei, Ao Jiuxiao’s was unharmed. His white clothes fluttered and also had a treasure sword on his back, just like a sword sect’s disciple.
“Hey, student Li Mo, student Du Fei, what a coincidence. I never saw you at school and yet meet you here.”
Li Mo rose an eyebrow.
Around this enthused teacher, Li Mo had always felt queasy.
“Li Mo, Du Fei, aren’t you guys hot? Your teacher can barely take it.
“By the way, Li Mo, I seem to recall you not being on the roster for this test. How come you’re here?”
Ao Jiuxiao never stopped fanning himself with his hand.
“Oh my, is this an entrance made by the Staff of Origin? Great, fabulous! I’m saved, I’m truly saved.”
Ao Jiuxiao stormed past Li Mo and disappeared through the time-space rupture.
He left…
Li Mo frowned.
His nagging feeling that something was off about Ao Jiuxiao only increased.
Rare few were those who knew the name Staff of Origin. While the rest of the universe calls it a time-space artifact.
‘Does Ao Jiuxiao know I have the Staff of Origin?’
Countless thoughts ran through Li Mo’s mind in a flash. Even killing.
The importance of the staff couldn’t be stressed enough. It was also the sole reason for the aliens’ invasion.
“Don’t mind the Mystical Firebird. Your opponent is Lei Tian.”
Li Mo threw the little panda to Du Fei and was gone through the time-space rupture.
Li Mo breathed in and sensed Ao Jiuxiao’s direction.
He gave chase with Warp.
The Staff of Origin impacted the future and Li Mo exercised forbearance in all of his actions, except now!
He landed in a forest where Ao Jiuxiao’s signature vanished.
Thump!
Li Mo punched a tree to splinters, then another. It was now that Ao Jiuxiao came out of a tree. He cupped his hands with a smile, “Student Li Mo, is this really necessary? I have never done you wrong.”
“Just clearing some doubts!”
Li Mo flashed before Ao Jiuxiao.
Ao Jiuxiao stepped back and used the sword on his back to release a white sword beam.
Li Mo chose to punch it to pieces instead of dodging.
The white sword beam was plain sword qi. A colored sword beam was a level above and a transparent sword beam was the highest. He would’ve acted entirely different in the case of a transparent sword beam.
Though it was clear Ao Jiuxiao was for from reaching such a level
“Flying sword art!”
Ao Jiuxiao made a gesture and the sword shot straight for Li Mo.
Li Mo simply grabbed it.
Ao Jiuxiao’s mouth twitched.
“Student Li Mo, I never had any ill will towards you. Can you not be so cruel to your teacher? Teacher is growing old, and despite not being small down below, I’m close to…”
“Like I said, I only want to shed light on my doubts. If you don’t want to become my enemy, hold still.”
“Is that all? Ok then, come. Do what you want.”
Hum~
Li Mo flashed before Ao Jiuxiao and place his hand on his head.
Ao Jiuxiao wanted to resist but Li Mo’s grip was demanded obedience.
As Li Mo’s qi coursed through Ao Jiuxiao, his face twisted and shuddered.
Li Mo used Fortune of Heaven and Earth Art to search his mind.
Word of mouth wouldn’t do in this case. Only memories could speak true.
Mount Shu sect’s disciple, Chi You’s descendant, master Tian Xinzi.
Li Mo scoured his memories but held no interest in Ao Jiuxiao’s daily life’s secrets. He only looked for memories related to the Staff of Origin.
Ao Jiuxiao was so talented that master Tian Xinzi from Mount Shu sect took him in since young. He imparted immortal sword arts. As a matter of fact, Tian Xinzi couldn’t use such arts, but in terms of divination, he was unmatched.
With but a simple gesture, he could divine what would happen five years from now. Including the fact Li Mo would be the owner of the Staff of Origin.
The toll for glimpsing into Heaven’s secrets was lifespan. If Tian Xinzi had went straight to looking for the Staff of Origin, it would’ve robbed him of his life. That was why he took a detour and told Ao Jiuxiao on his deathbed to be on friendly terms with the holder of the Staff of Origin. So he followed his master’s wish and came to Feng City as a teacher.
To be able to foresee the Staff of Origin was already hard enough, so You Ye had no knowledge of its use.
What he said before was just a conjecture.
Li Mo found everything he wanted then had all of Ao Jiuxiao’s memories related to the Mystical Firebird world wiped.
Ten minutes later, Ao Jiuxiao got up from the ground and scratched his head confused, “How did I get here?”
