Chapter 282: Chapter 142: Xinhua Academy (2)

But more than shock, Zhou Qing was happy.

He was happy for his good friend.

In this world, strength reigned supreme. Only with strength could one live a better life.

The stronger Shen Bai became, the more stable a life he could lead.

So of course, Zhou Qing was happy.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing waved.

"Lao Shen, are you alright?"

He knew the question was unnecessary, but Zhou Qing still asked it instinctively.

Shen Bai sheathed Cold Moon and walked over to Zhou Qing, shaking his head. "I’m fine, Old Zhou. You’ve all finally made it to Fenglin State, but something doesn’t seem right about the current situation."

’The rift is gone, trapping us here for now. Even with the coordinates, this is a huge problem.’

Zhou Qing asked in confusion, "Weren’t all the Deceitfuls dealt with? How is something not right?"

Shen Bai thought for a moment before explaining what had happened.

After listening, Zhao Sheng frowned. "It seems an unpredictable event has occurred on the Life and Death Road."

Shen Bai looked over at him but said nothing.

’He didn’t recognize Zhao Sheng, but from the looks of it, this man had to be the general leading the thousand-man army.’

Zhou Qing then came to his senses and made the introductions. "Lao Shen, this is General Zhao, commander of the Dingfeng Camp. He’s also part of the army dispatched by Marquis Fengjiang."

"General, this is my good friend, Shen Bai. He’s a Ding Shou in the Observatory and was personally recruited by Lord Liu of Fenglin State."

With the introductions made, the atmosphere became less tense.

Zhao Sheng cupped his fists. "I have long heard of Lord Shen’s prestigious name. Seeing you today, I can confirm the rumors are true. To fight against the Meridian Realm while only at the Five Organ Realm... you are truly a role model for the younger generation."

Standing beside them, Zhou Qing’s eyes widened slightly when he heard Zhao Sheng’s words.

It was the first time he had ever seen Zhao Sheng speak to a young man in such a tone; it was as if he were addressing a peer.

No, perhaps he had even lowered his own status.

’But when he recalled his friend’s terrifying power from just a moment ago, Zhou Qing felt this all made perfect sense.’

Shen Bai shook his head. "It’s nothing but an empty reputation, hardly worth mentioning."

"This isn’t the time for pleasantries. It seems we have a bigger problem on our hands."

Zhao Sheng had intended to exchange a few more pleasantries, but hearing Shen Bai’s words, he put the thought aside and asked, "What problem?"

Shen Bai said, "Those three Deceitfuls from before knew how to coordinate. That implies something much more significant is going on here."

"Coordinate?"

Hearing this, Zhao Sheng frowned. "I’ve never heard of Deceitfuls knowing how to coordinate. Has something happened inside this Life and Death Road that defies common knowledge?"

Deceitfuls possess no sapience; they act purely on instinct.

It is precisely for this reason that even if a Deceitful of the same Level is stronger than a human, humans can still exploit this Weakness to defeat them.

But now, they were faced with Deceitfuls that knew how to coordinate.

This was the first time anything like this had ever happened. If word of it got out, it would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the current state of affairs.

Shen Bai nodded. "Exactly. This place is even stranger than I imagined."

Zhao Sheng glanced around. "So what do we do now?"

The sinister, cold aura had completely dissipated. Everything seemed to have returned to normal, with no trace of anything unusual.

Although what Shen Bai had said sounded fantastical, they currently had no leads.

Shen Bai pondered for a moment and was just about to speak.

But at that very moment, something changed.

Amber, nestled in Shen Bai’s arms, suddenly lifted its head, turned to one side, and let out a series of low growls.

As it growled, the sinister, cold aura emanating from Amber intensified.

"A Deceitful Beast?" Zhao Sheng’s eyes widened.

He had been so stunned by Shen Bai’s terrifying power earlier that he hadn’t paid any attention to Amber.

When Shen Bai finished off the Deceitfuls, Amber had returned to his arms, docile as a kitten, which was why Zhao Sheng hadn’t noticed it at all.

Now that Amber was emitting a sinister aura, it immediately drew Zhao Sheng’s attention, making him gasp.

"To think Lord Shen possesses a Deceitful Beast... truly a blessing from the heavens! The last time I saw one was more than a decade ago," Zhao Sheng exclaimed.

Shen Bai smiled. "It’s just a Deceitful Beast, nothing worth mentioning."

Zhao Sheng: "..."

’He had met Landlord Mu of Fenglin State in his younger days.’

’For some reason, he saw a hint of Landlord Mu in Shen Bai.’

’No, Shen Bai was even more extreme.’

Amber’s cries grew more urgent, its emerald-green eyes fixed on a single direction.

Its low growls were incessant, as if something terrifying was about to emerge from that direction.

Everyone stopped talking, their gazes fixed on that direction as they tightened their grips on their Weapons.

Within their line of sight, a terrifying silhouette appeared in the mysterious mist.

At first, the silhouette was blurry and distant.

But as time passed, the silhouette emerged from the mist and appeared before them.

Seeing the Deceitful that appeared, Shen Bai rubbed his chin and remarked, "Well, that’s certainly grotesque."

A brain the size of a millstone floated in mid-air.

The crisscrossing fissures on its surface constantly radiated a sinister, cold aura.

As the brain Deceitful emerged, a strange, illusory sensation began to permeate the area.

Several soldiers’ eyes glazed over, and they could barely keep a grip on their Weapons.

Shen Bai frowned.

He felt chaotic, jumbled energies beginning to emanate within his mind.

"So hungry... so hungry."

"So cold... it’s so cold... is there any fire..."

"*Sob*... they’re all bad people... all bad people..."

"Kill them all!"

All sorts of voices surfaced in Shen Bai’s mind, causing him to grow dazed for a moment.